Threatened Island Nations Legal Implications of Rising Seas and a Changing Climate

Rising seas are endangering the habitability and very existence of several small island nations, mostly in the Pacific and Indian oceans. This is the first book to focus on the myriad legal issues posed by this tragic situation: if a nation is under water, is it still a state? Does it still have a seat at the United Nations? What becomes of its exclusive economic zone, the basis for its fishing rights? What obligations do other nations have to take in the displaced populations, and what are these peoples' rights and legal status once they arrive? Should there be a new international agreement on climate-displaced populations? Do these nations and their citizens have any legal recourse for compensation? Are there any courts that will hear their claims, and based on what theories? Leading legal scholars from around the world address these novel questions and propose answers.

• The first book to address the legal issues faced by island nations whose existence is threatened by sea level rise

• Proposes novel legal solutions to new problems

• Aimed specifically at small island nations, but concepts and legal doctrines also apply to larger countries that are facing threats from climate change