Rising seas won’t reduce ocean borders of small island nations, UN court rules

A landmark opinion from the United Nations International Court of Justice has ruled that rising sea levels caused by climate change do not require countries to redraw their maritime borders. Small island nations, among the most vulnerable to sea level rise, are hailing the decision as a victory against a threat to their sovereignty. In a July 23 advisory opinion, the U.N.’s highest court concluded that a nation’s existing maritime zones should remain unchanged even if coastlines shrink as sea levels rise. It also said that if the landmass of an established country were to be completely submerged by rising seas, “the disappearance of one of its constituent elements would not necessarily entail loss of statehood.” In Mongabay’s Sept. 9 podcast, host Mike Digirolamo spoke to Angelique Pouponn