Mr. President,
Excellencies, Colleagues,

I have the honour to deliver this joint statement on behalf of C-SET, the Coalition for addressing Sea-level rise & its Existential Threats, namely Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Denmark, Malta, Morocco, New Zealand, Palau, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Tuvalu and my own country Germany.

At the outset, C-SET would like to express our sincere appreciation to the co-facilitators, the Permanent Representatives of New Zealand and Costa Rica, for their tireless efforts and dedication throughout these past six months. Their guidance, flexibility and ingenuity have been invaluable in navigating the unexpected contradictions and challenges that transpired throughout the process.

We, C-SET, acknowledge the progress made, but we cannot ignore the gravity of the situation on the ground. Small island states and low-lying coastal States and communities cannot address the existential threats posed by sea-level rise alone. While the outcome achieved falls short of the ambitious action required, and -frankly- expected by affected populations and communities, we are =nevertheless= encouraged by the successful efforts of the co-facilitators in achieving consensus on the draft decision. This decision will would lead us towards a negotiated outcome in the near future.

We welcome important elements of this decision, namely the recognition of the urgency of addressing sea-level rise, the acknowledgment of its multidimensional nature, and the welcoming of regional efforts. However, we maintain our position: it would have been desirable to have included a stronger emphasis on concrete actions in this resolution as well as a regular review of the commitments made in addressing threats posed by sea-level rise.

C-SET urges all parties to continue working diligently towards a future where the adverse impacts of sea-level rise are better anticipated, mitigated, and prevented. And, where this is not possible, that solutions are planned in advance in order to prevent loss & damage, minimize the adverse impact of sea-level rise, and enable affected countries and populations to adapt and prosper. Last but not least, the rights, the livelihoods and the rich cultural heritage of vulnerable communities must be protected.

C-SET remains committed to collaborating with all Member States and stakeholders to achieve these critical goals to leave no one behind.

Mr. President,

I cannot end this statement without explicitly thanking you for your unwavering personal commitment throughout the entire year of your presidency in putting this crucial topic for humanity at the centre of this assembly.

Thank you.