Summaries of the Work of the International Law Commission
Sea-level rise in relation to international law
See also: Analytical Guide | Texts and Instruments
At its seventy-first session, in 2019, the International Law Commission decided to include the topic "Sea-level rise in international law" in its programme of work, on the basis of the recommendation of the Working Group on the long-term programme of work. The Commission also decided to establish an open-ended Study Group on the topic, to be co-chaired, on a rotating basis, by: Mr. Bogdan Aurescu, Mr. Yacouba Cissé, Ms. Patricia Galvão Teles, Ms. Nilüfer Oral and Mr. Juan José Ruda Santolaria. The Commission further received and took note of a joint oral report of the Co-Chairs of the Study Group on its consideration of an informal paper on the organization of its work containing a road map for 2019 to 2021.
At its seventy-second session, in 2021, the Commission reconstituted the Study Group on sea-level rise in relation to international law, chaired by the two Co-Chairs on issues related to the law of the sea, namely Mr. Aurescu and Ms. Oral. The Study Group had before it the first issues paper on the topic,1 which was issued together with a preliminary bibliography,2 prepared by Mr. Aurescu and Ms. Oral. The Commission subsequently took note of the joint oral report of the Co-Chairs of the Study Group.3
At its seventy-third session, in 2022, the Commission reconstituted the Study Group sea-level rise in relation to international law, chaired by the two co-Chairs on issues related to statehood and the protection of persons affected by sea-level rise, namely Ms. Galvão Teles and Mr. Ruda Santolaria. The Study Group had before it the second issues paper on the topic,4 prepared by Ms. Galvão Teles and Mr. Ruda Santolaria, together with a selected bibliography, finalized in consultation with members of the Study Group.5 The Commission subsequently took note of the report of the Study Group.6
At the same session, the Commission decided to request the Secretariat to prepare a memorandum identifying elements in the Commission’s previous work that could be relevant for its future work on the topic, in particular in relation to statehood and the protection of persons affected by sea-level rise, for its consideration at its seventy-fifth session.7
The work of the Commission on the topic as described above has been proceeding in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly under the item relating to the report of the International Law Commission.8
1 Document A/CN.4/740 and Corr.1.
2 Document A/CN.4/740/Add.1.
3 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-sixth Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/76/10), paras. 247-251.
4 Document A/CN.4/752.
5 Document A/CN.4/752/Add.1.
6 See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-seventh Session, Supplement No. 10 (A/77/10), paras. 153-156. The report of the Study Group is reflected in the report of the Commission. Ibid., Chapter IX, Section B.
8 General Assembly resolutions 74/186 of 18 December 2019, 75/135 of 15 December 2020, 76/111 or 9 December 2021 and 77/103 of 7 December 2022.