Sinking States

As sea levels continue to rise, island states in the Pacific and Indian oceans may soon find their territory submerged. More than 9.5 million people are at risk of climate displacement, and evacuations, described as “population transfer,” are already occurring throughout the Pacific. While international law guarantees individuals the right of asylum, never before have entire countries, such as Tuvalu, Kiribati, and the Maldives, faced the threat of imminent physical eradication. The unprecedented climate refugee crisis raises thorny questions about the nature of statehood: Can a state still enjoy territorial sovereignty without resting upon naturally formed land? What does citizenship mean if an entire population resides in a host country, such as New Zealand? What responsibilities do other countries bear for contributing to climate change in the first place? Notions of statehood and international law, Patrick Skyes argues, must be reworked to ensure that at-risk populations do not lose their basic claim to state sovereignty and a distinct cultural identity. – YaleGlobal