What is it about?
Exclusive economic zones and continental shelves are of key economic importance to a number of small island developing States that are vulnerable to sea-level rise. There are strong arguments in favor of protecting such maritime entitlements. They include permanence and stability of boundaries and outer limits of continental shelves and economic zones. I seek inspiration from other legal innovation in the law of the sea to consider ways to ensure the preservation of such entitlements, irrespective of changes in coastlines.
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Why is it important?
The consideration of such questions is deservedly given high priority in a number of political and legal forums, in light of on-going sea-level rise that may lead to loss of land territory. The question is how coastal State rights may be preserved in spite of such losses. This chapter narrows down on the specific issue of preservation of economically important maritime zones beyond the territorial sea. Consideration is given to possible approaches that are independent of the preservation of baselines, which have hitherto been the object of a major focus.
Perspectives
The chapter was written before the author became an elected member of the International Law Commission of the United Nations. It draws on the author's experience as a government international lawyer. It is a contribution in honor of professor Marcelo Kohen.
Rolf Einar Fife
International Law Commission - United Nations
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Sea-Level Rise in Relation to International Law: How to Protect Coastal State Rights by Operationalizing Legal Analysis, October 2023, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004509429_043.
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