LES FUTURS RÉFUGIÉS DES ÎLES KIRIBATI ENGLOUTIES POURRONT-ILS CONSERVER DES DROITS SUR LEURS ZONES TERRITORIALES ACTUELLES ?

The definition of maritime territorial and non-territorial zones in the context of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982) puts Small Island States at a disadvantage in the context of climate change and the concomitant rise in sea levels. For example, since the outer maritime limits of a sovereign state are set according to the baseline left at low tide on the land territory of that state, in the event of partial submersion of that territory, those outer limits recede. In case of complete submersion of the territory, maritime sovereignty disappears completely. We consider degrees of possible revision of the texts of the law of the sea and of some principles of international law that govern this consequence in order to mitigate the effects for the potential climate refugees concerned. Our reading of the texts aims at putting the bearers of nationality rather than the notion of territoriality at the principle of a law that would mitigate the effects of climate injustice.