The implications of sea-level rise for international law - Introduction

The question concerning the effects, implications, and repercussions of the phenomenon of sea level rise, as well as its possible and potential legal consequences, has been at the heart of political, legal, and institutional debates, becoming the subject of several statements by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and of sector studies carried out by specialized organizations.The interconnections between sea-level rise and different areas of international law are therefore rich in suggestions, while presenting some very complex aspects. The present Zoom Out intends to discuss some of the most important contentious issues in this field in order to determine to what extent and in which way international law is able to respond to the problems raised by sea level rise, as well as the possible strategies and solutions that the international legal order could develop in this regard.