Sibi George, Secretary (West) in India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on 25 September 2026 delivered India's national statement at the High-Level Plenary Meeting on Addressing the Existential Threats Posed by Sea Level Rise at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. George welcomed the adoption of the UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise and underscored India's commitment to coastal resilience, mangrove conservation, and disaster-resilient infrastructure.

Key Positions India Articulated

At the plenary, George reaffirmed the centrality of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), arguing for the preservation of stable maritime zones and the continuity of statehood for island and coastal nations threatened by rising seas. He also emphasised equity and the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) — a framework that holds developed nations to a higher standard of climate accountability than developing ones.

The MEA, in a post on X, noted that George 'welcomed the adoption of the UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise and highlighted India's efforts on coastal resilience, mangrove conservation and disaster-resilient infrastructure,' adding that he 'reaffirmed the importance of equity and CBDR-RC, and underscored the significance of UNCLOS, stable maritime zones and continuity of statehood for island and coastal States.'

India's Peacebuilding Engagement at UNGA

A day earlier, on Thursday, George participated in the Peacebuilding Commission Ministerial meeting focused on 'National Ownership in Practice: Strengthening Inclusive State Institutions through International Peacebuilding Support.' He reaffirmed what India calls the centrality of national ownership in peacebuilding — the principle that lasting stability must be driven from within, not imposed from outside.

According to the MEA, George shared India's perspectives on nation-building, specifically highlighting decentralisation of power, human-centric digital public infrastructure, and inclusive development with a focus on women and youth participation. The MEA also noted that 'India has extended tens of billions in grants, concessional credit, and capacity-building, including through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, with priority for LDCs and SIDS countries.'

India's Commitment to Palestinian Refugees

On the sidelines of the 81st UNGA session, George also attended the ministerial meeting of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). The MEA described his participation as reflective of 'India's longstanding commitment to the Palestinian people' and said India's ongoing partnership with UNRWA aims to make 'tangible and lasting impact on the daily lives of Palestinian people.'

Why These Positions Matter

India's advocacy for UNCLOS-backed stable maritime zones carries particular weight given the country's own extensive coastline and island territories, including the Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep archipelagos. For Small Island Developing States (SIDS) — many of which face genuine existential risk from sea-level rise — India's diplomatic backing at the UNGA provides an important voice from the Global South. This comes amid growing international debate over whether rising seas that physically alter coastlines should automatically trigger a revision of maritime boundaries and even statehood — a legal question the new UN Declaration begins to address. India's stance, backing continuity of statehood, aligns with the positions of vulnerable Pacific and Indian Ocean nations.