The UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise

Context

What It Is

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• A consensus-based international political declaration
• Establishing global principles for safeguarding continued statehood, permanent maritime entitlements and human rights of nations facing inundation
• Adopted under UNGA Decision 78/558, co-facilitated by Australia and Cabo Verde

The Five Key Features

• Presumption of continued statehood — sovereign statehood, legal personality and UN membership remain intact even if territory is submerged
• Freezing of maritime baselines — lawfully deposited UNCLOS maritime boundaries remain fixed and permanent, with no requirement to revise them as coastlines retreat
• Protection of affected persons — populations displaced across borders retain protections under international human rights law, preserving nationality, dignity and the right to self-determination
• Closing the adaptation finance gap — urging predictable, simplified climate adaptation funds for vulnerable island nations
• Scientific observation and early warnings — oceanic data sharing, coastal risk mapping and multi-hazard early warning systems

Key Terms

• Sea-Level Rise: Long-term increase in the average level of the world’s oceans, mainly due to global warming and melting ice.
• SIDS: Small Island Developing States that are particularly vulnerable to climate change, sea-level rise and extreme weather events.
• UNCLOS: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the major international legal framework governing oceans and maritime zones.
• Maritime Entitlements: Rights of coastal states over maritime areas such as the territorial sea, contiguous zone, EEZ and continental shelf.