The Foundation took part in the 3rd Climate Mobility Summit, held during the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
This major international event, dedicated to sea level rise and the risks of coastal displacement, brought together heads of state, experts, and institutions committed to building sustainable adaptation strategies for threatened territories. During the session devoted to island nations, Jacques Rougerie shared his vision as both architect and humanist: to give communities facing rising waters the opportunity to remain on their ancestral lands rather than be forced into climate exile.
His intervention was one of the highlights of the summit, opening new avenues for collaboration with island states. This visit also led to key meetings with:
- Carlos Alvarado Quesada, former President of Costa Rica
- Feleti Teo, Prime Minister of Tuvalu
- Terrence Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Mosese Bulitavu, Minister for the Environment of Fiji
- Gustav Aitaro, Minister of State of Palau
- Peter Thomson, United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean
Together with the Global Centre for Climate Mobility (GCCM) and UNOPS, under the leadership of Professor Kamal Amakrane, and with the support of Andrea Milan and Miguel Verzbolovskis, the Foundation is developing large-scale projects to strengthen the resilience of Tuvalu, in partnership with the Minister of Home Affairs and Climate, Mania Talia. Through its international reach and its network of Junior Ambassadors across five continents, the Foundation asserts itself as a key partner for coastal nations in their adaptation strategies.
It works in synergy with French diplomacy, represented by Olivier Poivre d'Arvor, Ashok Adicéam, Benoît Faraco, and the City of Nice, represented by Olivier Bettati. Finally, Amine Lehna, Director of Development and International Relations, also spoke on behalf of the Junior Ambassadors, this new generation committed to defending the future of coastal communities. Sea level rise is not inevitable. Together, we must design sustainable and desirable solutions that restore hope for generations to come.