{
  "id": 10443276,
  "title": "Sea level rise: Can a country retain its statehood even if it loses its territory?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/sea-level-rise-can-a-country-retain-its-statehood-even-if-it-loses",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-28T12:39:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/un-declaration-sea-level-rise-island-nations-10897747/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Last week, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the first-ever UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise, recognizing the threat of rising sea levels and addressing the issue of territory loss faced by low-lying countries. Sea level rise, primarily caused by global warming, results from the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, as well as the thermal expansion of seawater. Low-lying islands, with much of their land only a few meters above sea level, are especially vulnerable to coastal erosion, flooding, and saltwater intrusion. The global mean sea level in 2025 was comparable to the record-high levels observed in 2024, with the rate of sea-level rise since 2012 being higher than in the previous decade.\n\nThe loss of territory and habitability due to sea level rise raises legal questions about the continued statehood of affected nations. Under the 1933 Montevideo Convention, a state is defined by a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. However, the International Law Commission's 2025 report notes that these criteria do not fully address the continuity of statehood in the context of climate-related sea-level rise. The UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise affirms the presumption of continued statehood, despite territory loss, and emphasizes the sovereignty, sovereign rights, and responsibilities of affected states, as well as their UN membership. The declaration also calls for international support for states affected by sea level rise and their right to maintain maritime zones, as per the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "UN adopts first-ever declaration on sea level rise",
    "Low-lying countries face territory loss due to climate change",
    "Declaration affirms continued statehood despite territory loss"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}