Flood waters rising next to house boats.

Rising seas may erase land, but not national identity, legal experts say

Nations facing submersion from rising seas could retain their legal status and maritime rights under international law, according to a new report from the United Nations’ International Law Commission.

Isabella Kaminski reports for The Guardian.

In short:

The UN’s International Law Commission concluded that countries can maintain statehood and maritime boundaries even if their land disappears due to sea level rise, preserving access to natural resources and political recognition.
Island nations like Tuvalu are already experiencing land loss and saline intrusion, forcing governments to seek legal recognition, adaptation aid, and migration pathways for citizens.
Australia and Latvia have formally committed to recognizing the sovereignty and maritime claims of Tuvalu, even if its territory becomes uninhabitable, setting a precedent for future international agreements.

Why this matters:

Rising sea levels are already reshaping coastlines and endangering freshwater supplies in island nations. As ice sheets melt and oceans expand, small island states face the loss of territory, homes, and even the legal frameworks that define their sovereignty. Without clear rules, disappearing land could mean disappearing rights, from fishing grounds to diplomatic recognition. This creates a volatile mix of legal ambiguity, human displacement, and geopolitical tension. The fossil fuel emissions driving these changes come mostly from wealthy nations, but the consequences are landing hardest on communities with the fewest resources. Legal recognition of statehood despite physical loss offers a safeguard, but not a solution, for countries already on the front lines.

www.theguardian.com

Rising seas may erase land, but not national identity, legal experts say

Disaster aid cuts raise fears of post-Katrina failures as hurricane risks grow

New Orleans children carry Hurricane Katrina’s trauma into adulthood

Local emergency alert systems often go unused, with deadly results

Democrats target Trump’s energy law as driver of rising electricity bills

Oil and gas firms press Carney to scale back climate rules as Canada weighs emissions plan update

U.S. tariffs hit Indian solar exports as domestic market faces pressure to absorb surplus

Koch-funded campaign ramps up fight against Vermont’s clean energy laws

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.