Anemoon Soete

The island States which are geographically the lowest lying in the world can be found in thePacific Ocean (Tuvalu, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands) and the Indian Ocean (the Maldives).These four States are populated by over half a million people. Together their Exclusive EconomicZones – important for fishing and other exploration and exploitation rights – accountfor over 7 million km², an area which compares to 20 times the size of Germany. Due to theirlow-lying nature, these island States are highly threatened by rising sea levels caused by climatechange. They are the first to experience a significant loss of territory due to climate change.

This monograph discusses the consequences for the legal personality of the low-lying islandStates which will become submerged due to sea level rise. The issue is approached in amanner which goes beyond the binary statehood or no statehood analysis and includesother potential legal personalities available to the people of the State based on the right toself-determination as found in common article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and PoliticalRights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. In addition,the consequences of changes to the legal personality of a State are reviewed, in particularthose pertaining to the rights and duties a State holds in its maritime zones.

You can also order this book as an e-book by sending an e-mail to bruno.scheers@maklu.be