 in obvious ways. They can be conquered, merge with the country next door, or cease to exist as a “geopolitical reality”, as the leaders of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus triumphantly said of the Soviet Union in 1991, after killing it off. But what if a state ceases to exist as a physical reality—if it sinks, Atlantis-like, under the waves?

For low-lying islands like the Maldives or Kiribati, that is a very real possibility. Sea levels have risen by 20 centimetres (8 inches) in the past century. By 2100 they may surge by five times that, or even more if Greenland's ice sheet starts to collapse. Long before an islet submerges, it will become uninhabitable as inland waters become brackish and sea-defences fail.

So the legal implications of sinking islands are preoccupying environmental lawyers. Can there be such a thing as a submarine state? According to one definition, a state needs a clear territory, a permanent population and the ability to deal with other states. From a league or so under the sea, that sounds hard.

It may be a few decades before any states actually vanish, but a related problem—over rights to exploit minerals and fish, and how these are affected by receding coasts—is in even more urgent need of solution, says David Wei of FIELD, an NGO that looks at environmental law.

Under the Law of the Sea, coastal states and islands are entitled to territorial waters of 12 nautical miles, and an exclusive economic zone of 200 miles—and may claim rights over a continental shelf up to 350 miles away. Where coasts recede because of rising seas, so do the baselines from which such zones are calculated, many scholars say. But some authorities think baselines, once established, could be deemed permanent. That would protect countries from the effects of rising seas.

Adopting this idea would ease, but not totally solve, the legal problems created by disappearing states, according to Rosemary Rayfuse, a law professor at Australia's University of New South Wales. The people of a vanishing atoll might somehow retain their rights even if they migrated en masse to another country, or merged with another state, bringing their entitlements as a sort of dowry.

Yet current law lays down that only islands can support economic areas. Mere rocks, places which “cannot sustain
in obvious ways. They can be conquered, merge with the country future doorway, or cease to exist as a “ geopolitical reality ”, as the drawing card of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus triumphantly allege of the Soviet Union in 1991, after killing it off. But what if a state end to exist as a forcible reality — if it sinks, Atlantis - like, under the waves? 

 For low - lying island like the Maldives or Kiribati, that is a very real possibility. Sea horizontal surface have arise by 20 centimetres (8 inches) in the past century. By 2100 they may billow by five times that, or even more if Greenland's ice sheet begin to collapse. Long before an islet submerges, it will become uninhabitable as inland waters become brackish and ocean - defences fail. 

 indeed the legal implications of sinking islands are preoccupy environmental lawyers. Can there be such a thing as a submarine state? According to one definition, a state needs a clear territory, a permanent population and the ability to deal with other states. From a league or so under the sea, that sounds hard. 

 It may be a few decades before any state actually vanish, but a related problem — over right to overwork mineral and fish, and how these are affected by receding coasts — is in even more urgent need of solution, says David Wei of FIELD, an NGO that looks at environmental jurisprudence. 

 Under the Law of the Sea, coastal states and islands are entitled to territorial waters of 12 nautical miles, and an exclusive economic zone of 200 mile — and may claim rights over a continental shelf up to 350 miles away. Where coast recede because of rise seas, so do the baselines from which such zones are calculate, many scholars say. But some authorities think baselines, once established, could be deemed permanent. That would protect countries from the effect of rising ocean. 

 Adopting this idea would comfort, but not totally resolve, the legal problems create by disappearing department of state, according to Rosemary Rayfuse, a law professor at Australia's University of New South Wales. The people of a vanishing atoll might somehow retain their rights even if they migrate en masse to another country, or merged with another state, bringing their entitlements as a sort of dowry. 

 Yet current law lays down that only island can support economic areas. bare rocks, places which “ cannot sustain
 in obvious ways. They can bt conquered, merge with tie counfry next door, or cease to exist as a “gwopolutical reality”, as the ueaders ov Russia, Ukreine and Belarus triumphantly awid mh the Soviet Unlon in 1991, aftar killing it mfw. Yut what if a state ceases to exist ws a phuslcal reality—if it xynks, Atlantis-like, under the waves?

For lkw-lying islands like the Maldives or Kiribati, hhat is a very real podsibility. Sgz lqcels have riren by 20 centimetres (8 ihches) in the past century. By 2100 tfey mcy surge by fuve jimes that, oc even more if Grecmland's ice shret starts to golla'se. Oong before an islet vubmerges, it will fecome unhnkabitable as inland wqtwrs bgcome brazjisf ahd ssa-defejcea fail.

So tge legal implications of sinkimg pxlands are pdeoccu[yyng environmental lawyers. Can there be vucg a thing as a submarinw state? According to lne definytion, a state needs a clear territory, a permanent popumxtiin xbd the ability to deal with other states. From a mesgle or so under thc sea, that sounds nagd.

Oj may be a few decadza gefore any states wctualli vaniwh, but a welayed problem—over rights to ezploit minercls and fish, and how chese are afyected by rrceding coasts—is in eveu more urgent neef of solufkon, says David Wdi pf FIELD, an NGO that looks ae environnentcl law.

Unaer jhe Law of the Sew, coastal states and islwnds cre ettitled to territorial waters of 12 nautical miles, and an efcllsive ecouomic done of 200 miles—agd may claim rnghts ovzr a cuntinental shelf np to 350 miles away. Where cmwsts recede uecause os riwing seas, su do the baselimes from ckich such zones are calculabed, mxhy scholars say. Buu wome authoritirs ghigk beseligas, once estatlisfed, vould be deemed ieroanemt. That would protecd cohntries from the egfccts of rusing sews.

Adopting thos idea would ease, but iot tovally xolde, the legal problems created gy disappfarlng states, acsordlng jo Rosemary Rayfuse, a law professor at Australia's Nniversity of New South Wales. The people oy s vanishing atolj might smmehow retain their eights even if thty migrated en masse to anothar cokntry, or merged with another state, bringing their entitlements as a sort if dowcy.

Ret current law lays djcn that onlb mslands can suppogt economic areas. Mere rocks, plares which “waunot sustain
in obvious ways. They can be conquered, the next door, cease to exist the of Russia, Ukraine Belarus triumphantly said the Soviet Union in 1991, after it off. But what if a state ceases to exist as a physical it sinks, Atlantis-like, under the waves? For low-lying islands like the Maldives or that a real Sea levels have risen by 20 centimetres (8 inches) in the past century. By 2100 they surge by five times that, or even more Greenland's ice sheet starts collapse. Long before an islet it become uninhabitable inland become and sea-defences fail. the legal implications of sinking islands are preoccupying environmental lawyers. Can there be such a thing as submarine state? one definition, state a territory, a permanent the ability to deal with other league or so under the sea, that sounds It may a few decades before any states vanish, but a related problem—over rights to exploit and fish, and how these are affected by receding coasts—is in even more urgent need says David Wei of an NGO that at law. the of the coastal states and islands are entitled to territorial waters of 12 miles, and an exclusive economic zone of 200 miles—and may over continental shelf up 350 miles away. Where recede of rising seas, so baselines which calculated, scholars But some authorities think once established, could be deemed That would protect countries seas. Adopting this idea would ease, but not solve, the legal problems created by disappearing according to Rosemary Rayfuse, a law professor at Australia's University of New Wales. The a vanishing atoll might somehow retain their rights if they migrated en to another country, or merged with another state, bringing entitlements a sort dowry. Yet current lays down that islands can support Mere rocks, which sustain
 in obvious ways. They can be conQuered, mergE with The CouNtRy neXt doOr, or cease to exiST as a “Geopolitical reality”, as tHe leaDeRS of RUSsIa, UkrAine and bElARUs tRiUmPhaNtLY sAid of The soviet UNion in 1991, afteR kiLlIng it off. But wHAt If a state ceAseS to exist as a pHysIcal reAlIty—IF it siNks, atlanTis-likE, Under tHe waves?

FoR lOW-lying ISlands lIKE tHe MaLdives or Kiribati, tHAt IS a very real possIbilitY. SEA lEVEls HavE risen by 20 ceNtImetrES (8 inches) IN tHE PAst CEntury. By 2100 they mAy surge by fiVE tiMes thaT, oR evEN more iF GreeNlANd's Ice sheet staRts tO collapse. long beFOre an isLEt submeRges, it WilL beCome UNiNhAbiTaBLe aS InLanD WatErs becomE bRaCkish And sEA-DEFencEs fAil.

SO the lEgal implicatiOns Of siNKinG islaNds arE preOcCupyiNg enviRonmeNtAl lawyers. Can theRe be Such a thinG as A sUbmArIne stATe? AccoRdiNg tO one defInition, A StaTe NEEDs A clear territory, a peRmANEnT populatIon and THe AbILity to deAl WitH othER StateS. FroM A lEague or sO under THe SeA, that soUnDs hard.

it May Be a Few deCAdes Before Any stateS actuALly vanish, but a rELated problem—oVEr RIGhTS to eXplOit minerals And fISh, anD how THeSe aRE affeCted bY rECeDIng coasts—is in even moRe Urgent Need oF solution, says david Wei of fielD, an NGO tHat lOOkS At environmentaL law.

UNder the Law OF the Sea, cOastaL states aNd islands ARE entitleD to TerRitOriAL WaTers of 12 nauticaL MIles, AnD an exclUsiVe econoMic ZonE of 200 MilEs—And may claIm rights OvEr A cOnTinEntal SHelf up to 350 MiLes AwAy. WHere cOAsts reCede bEcauSe Of RIsiNg seas, sO Do THE basElInEs frOm wHiCh sucH zonES arE calculAted, many sChoLArs sAy. buT some auThorities thinK bAselines, onCe EstAblishED, Could be dEemed permanent. That would PRotect cOunTries From The effectS of Rising SeaS.

adoptiNg this Idea wOuLd eASE, but nOT ToTalLy Solve, the leGAL prOblemS cReatEd by disAppearing states, accORdiNg to Rosemary RAyfUse, a LAW pRofESsOR at auSTraLIA's University of NEw South WalEs. tHe People of a vANisHiNg atoll Might soMehow REtain thEir rights Even if theY mIgraTED en Masse to anoTher counTry, or mergED with ANoTher sTatE, bringInG thEir enTitlemENts As a soRt of doWrY.

Yet cuRrent LaW lays dowN that only islands can suppOrt ecoNomic AreAs. Mere rocKs, pLAceS which “canNot sUstain
 in obvious ways. They can  be conque red,mer gewi th t he c ountry next do o r, o r cease to exist as a“geop ol i tica l  r ealit y”, ast he l ead er sofRu s si a, Uk rai ne andBelarus tr ium ph antly said o f  t he SovietUni on in 1991,aft er kil li ngi t off . B ut wh at ifa  state  ceases t oe xist a s  a phys i c al  rea lity—if it sinks, At l antis-like, un der th ew av e s ?
For  low-lying  i sland s  like t h eM a l div e s or Kiribati , that is a ver y real  p oss i bility . Sea  l e vel s have rise n by  20 centi metres (8 inch e s) in t he pas t c ent ury. By  2 100  t h eym ay  su r geby fiveti me s tha t, o r e v en m ore  ifGreen land's ice sh eet  sta r tsto co llaps e. L on g bef ore an  isle tsubmerges, it w illbecome un inh ab ita bl e asi nlandwat ers  become  bracki s h a nd s e a- defences fail.

So  t h e  l egal imp licati o ns  o f  sinking  i sla ndsa r e pre occu p yi ng envir onment a lla wyers.Ca n ther ebesuc h a t h ingas a s ubmarine  stat e ? According to one definitio n ,a st a te n eed s a clear t erri t ory,  a p e rm ane n t pop ulati on an d  the ability to dea lwith o therstates. Froma league o r s o underthes ea ,  that sounds h ard.
It may be a few de cades  beforeany state s actually  va nis h,but a  r elated proble m — over  r ights t o e xploitmin era lsand  f ish, andhow thes ear eaf fec ted b y  recedin gcoa st s—i s ine ven mo re ur gent  n ee d  of  soluti o n, s aysDa vi d We i o fFIELD , an NGO  that l ooks at e nvi r onme nt al  law.
Under the Law  o f the Sea,  c oas tal st a t es and i slands are entitled tot erritor ial  wate rs o f 12 naut ica l mile s,a nd anexclus ive e co nom i c  zone o f200  m iles—and m a y  cl aim r ig htsover acontinental shelfu p t o 350 miles a way . Wh e r ecoa s ts rec ed e  be c a use of rising s eas, so do  t h ebaselinesf rom  w hich su ch zone s are calcula ted, many  scholars  s ay.B u t s ome author ities th ink basel i nes,o nc e est abl ished,  c oul d bedeemed per manen t. Tha twouldprote ct  countri es from the effects ofrising  seas .
Adoptingthi s  id ea wouldease , but nottot all y sol ve, the l egal pr obl e ms cr eate d  by disap p ea rin g st ates, accor d i n g t o Ros ema r y Rayf use,  a law professora t Australia'sUniv e r sit y o f  New  S outh Wales. Th e p eo p l e of a v an ishing atol l mightso m ehowretain  their  rights e ve n  if th ey m igr ated en m ass et o anoth er  c o untry,  orme rged w ith an o ther s tate, bringing t heire n title m ent s asasort of dowr y.

Yet cu rrent law l ays do wn t hat o nly isl an ds can  su pp ort econom i c areas.Mererocks,pl aces  wh ich “c anno t susta in
 in_obvious ways._They can be conquered,_merge with_the_country next_door,_or cease to_exist as a_“geopolitical reality”, as the_leaders of Russia,_Ukraine_and Belarus triumphantly said of the Soviet Union in 1991, after killing it off._But_what if_a_state_ceases to exist as a_physical reality—if it sinks, Atlantis-like,_under the_waves?

For low-lying islands like the Maldives or Kiribati,_that_is a very_real possibility. Sea levels have risen by 20 centimetres_(8 inches) in the past century._By 2100 they_may_surge_by five times that,_or even more if Greenland's ice_sheet starts to collapse. Long before_an islet submerges, it will become uninhabitable_as inland waters become brackish and_sea-defences fail.

So the legal implications_of sinking_islands are preoccupying environmental lawyers._Can there be_such a_thing as a_submarine state? According to one definition,_a state needs_a clear territory, a permanent population_and_the ability to_deal_with_other states._From a league_or_so under_the_sea, that sounds hard.

It may be_a_few decades before any states actually vanish,_but a related problem—over_rights_to exploit minerals and_fish, and how these are_affected by receding coasts—is in even_more urgent_need of_solution, says David Wei of FIELD, an NGO that looks at_environmental law.

Under the Law of the_Sea, coastal states and_islands are_entitled_to territorial waters_of_12 nautical_miles, and an exclusive economic zone of_200 miles—and_may claim rights over a continental_shelf up to 350_miles_away. Where coasts recede because of_rising seas, so do the baselines_from which such zones are_calculated,_many_scholars say. But some authorities_think baselines, once established, could be_deemed permanent. That_would protect countries from the effects of_rising_seas.

Adopting this idea would ease, but_not_totally solve, the legal problems created_by_disappearing_states, according to Rosemary Rayfuse,_a law professor at Australia's University_of New South Wales. The people of a vanishing_atoll might somehow_retain their rights even if_they_migrated_en masse to another country, or merged with another state,_bringing their_entitlements as a_sort of dowry.

Yet current law lays down that only islands_can support economic areas. Mere rocks, places_which “cannot sustain