Michael B. Gerrard & Gregory E. Wannier (eds.), Threatened Island Nations: Legal Implications of Rising Seas and a Changing Climate, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2013, 666 pages.

Resumen

Presented book is the first comprehensive publication which examines the impact of climate change on the legal situation of small island nations such as the Marshall Islands. Problems affecting these nations touching their legal situation in a very different way than in the case of large countries threatened by the economic and social consequences of sea level rise (such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, Nigeria and Egypt). Presentation of scientific forecasting is an introduction to the advanced deliberations based on public international law doctrine. According to the authors global sea level rise of 1-2 metres is highly possible within the next hundred years. Sea level rise is not the only climatic threat experienced by small island nations. Among other particularly dangerous problems associated with climate change we can mention tropical cyclones, floods, and droughts. Island nations must therefore prepare for these problems on the basis of public international law. The authors draw attention to the most crucial legal problems associated with sea level rise such as potential impact of deterritorialization of the state to continue of its statehood, citizenship or legal status of forced environmental migrants. The authors draw attention to the most important challenges facing public international law on the status of migrants forced to leave their country of residence as a result of irreversible climate change. As we know, this problem has still not been regulated in any document of public international law. Much attention is also paid to the analysis of the consequences of climate change on the basis of the international law of the sea. The central elements of the analysis presented in the book are, inter alia, the impact of sea level rise to the exclusive economic zone, and fishing rights. The book relates primarily to the social and legal challenges facing microstates. Presented considerations may also become a useful point of reference in the analysis of the problems facing larger countries affected by climate changes and sea level rise.