New York, 26 September 2025 – Addressing the 80th United Nations General Assembly, His Excellency Wesley W. Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia spoke to the UNGA80 theme, “Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights.” while linking this global theme with local focus on the FSM’s top issues – including urging for renewed focus on climate action and highlighting the ongoing state of emergency due to oil leaks from WWII shipwrecks in Chuuk lagoon.
“The climate crisis is not up for debate – the only question is whether we will act with the urgency it demands,” President Simina told world leaders.
The President welcomed the recent International Court of Justice advisory opinion confirming that states are legally obliged to act on climate change, urging the Assembly to endorse it.
“The ICJ opinion points to the simple truth that at the core of this climate crisis lies the pursuit of justice – justice for the most vulnerable, justice for future generations, and justice for our shared planet,” he declared.
President Simina also pushed for methane mitigation as a global priority, warning that “cutting methane now could slow ocean heating and buy us time to build the clean energy future.”
President Simina reaffirmed Micronesia’s fight against plastic pollution and called for a strong global treaty covering the full lifecycle of plastics. “Despite the failure of the INC to produce a plastics treaty in Geneva, we are not giving up.” he stated.
President Simina also urged caution on deep seabed mining, insisting that “comprehensive science and consultation with Pacific communities must come first.”
President Simina also revealed that he has declared a state of emergency due to toxic oil leaking from a World War II shipwreck in Chuuk Lagoon. “These remnants of war now threaten our fisheries, our communities, and our livelihoods,” he said, appealing for urgent international assistance.
“The scale of this crisis far exceeds Micronesia’s capacity to address alone. As we mark the 80th anniversary of the war’s end, we appeal to the international community to work with us in transforming this legacy of war into an opportunity for cooperation.” he stated.
Underscoring the UNGA80 theme, President Simina pressed for reforms to ensure peace, development, and human rights remain central to the UN’s future. He advocated for adoption of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index to better target aid for small island states and called for Security Council reform to include underrepresented regions.
Reflecting on the milestone 80th anniversary, President Simina closed with underscoring the founding principles of the United Nations and reaffirming the FSM’s strong commitment to them, despite size or circumstance.
“Micronesia may be small, but our voice, our vote, and our place within the international community is committed to choosing that we are in fact “Better Together”.
“Because big or small, every nation has the power to choose peace over conflict. Big or small, every nation has the duty to protect our planet from harm. Big or small, every nation has the responsibility to defend justice and human dignity. Big or small – we always have been, and always will be, “Better Together”.” he concluded.
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President Simina’s full address can be viewed at:
