海平面上升对小岛屿国家的国际法挑战与应对——“中国—小岛屿国家”合作展望

Rising Sea Levels: Challenges and Responses for Small Island Developing States from the Perspective of International Law——The Prospect of Cooperation between China and Small Island States

全球气候变化而导致的海平面上升对沿岸国家,特别是小岛屿发展中国家构成了严重威胁。从国际法角度看,岛屿的沉没与消失对于一国主权、海洋权益和公民的人权均会构成损害。为了应对这一严峻现实,以岛礁建设形式巩固既有岛屿的技术已在不少国家得到广泛应用并取得了初步的成效。然而,对因海平面上升可能导致的后果,《联合国海洋法公约》的规定存在滞后性。从维护发展中国家,特别是小岛屿国家的利益出发来审视海平面上升对于海洋法的影响和岛礁建设的意义,是国际社会为维护人类可持续发展权利所必须正视的一项重大课题。

Rising sea level caused by climate change poses a serious threat to coastal countries,especially small island developing nations.From the perspective of international law,the sinking and disappearance of islands will damage the sovereignty of a country,maritime rights and human rights.In order to cope with this grim reality,the technology of consolidating existing islands in the form of land reclamations has been widely used in many countries,and achieved positive outcomes.However,the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS)has lagged behind in the legislation relating to a series of consequences caused by rising sea levels.From the perspective of safeguarding the interests of developing countries,especially small island states,re-examining the impact of rising sea level with the law of the sea,and the significance of land reclamations solution is a major issue that international community must face in order to safeguard the sustainable development of human society.