Warming Waters and Souring Seas

Abstract This chapter examines the impact of climate change and ocean acidification on the oceans and their implications for the international law of the sea. In particular, it assesses the implications of rising sea levels for territorial sea baselines, the seawards extent of maritime zones, and ma...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Stephens, Tim
Format: Book Part
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/law/9780198715481.003.0034
https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/42608/chapter/357548970
Description
Summary:Abstract This chapter examines the impact of climate change and ocean acidification on the oceans and their implications for the international law of the sea. In particular, it assesses the implications of rising sea levels for territorial sea baselines, the seawards extent of maritime zones, and maritime boundaries. It also considers the restrictions placed by the UN Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC) upon States in pursuing climate mitigation and adaptation policies, such as attempts to ‘engineer’ the global climate by artificially enhancing the capacity of the oceans to draw CO2 from the atmosphere. The chapter analyzes the role of the LOSC, alongside other treaty regimes, in addressing the serious threat of ocean acidification.