In its AR6 reporting the IPCCC found evidence that irreversible damage was done to cryosphere and that sea level rise was inevitable. In the fact of this threat, on 6 August 2021, at the Pacific Islands Forum 51st meeting, the Pacific Leaders issued a “Declaration on Preserving Maritime Zones in the Face of Climate Change-related Sea-Level Rise”. This constitutes an unprecedented international agreement precluding conflict that could arise from the consequences of climate change, in this case the modification sea level rise could have on maritime borders.

This is a forward-thinking policy of conflict prevention and environmental preservation. It enshrines the sovereignty of the Pacific States in perpetuity, recognizing the perils it would otherwise cause to the livelihood d wellbeing of the people of the region.  Together with the Boe Declaration on Regional Security of 2018, the pacific has put human security and peace in the face of climate change at the heart of its security.

SPEAKERS

• Guillaume Charron, Geneva Director, Independent Diplomat
• Marcelo Kohen, Professor of International Law, Graduate Institute
• Ambassador Mere Falemaka, Permanent Delegation of the Pacific Islands Forum to the United Nations, World Trade Organisation, and Other International Organisations in Geneva, Pacific Islands Forum
• Samuel Lanwi, Deputy Permanent Representative, Republic of the Marshall Islands
• David Maizlich, Security and Crisis Advisor, International Committee of the Red Cross