In recent years, many small island developing states (SIDS) have continued to voice concerns about the issues they will have to deal with as a result of the encroaching sea. These issues are particularly acute and urgent for those islands only a few metres above current sea levels.

The UK has for many years worked in partnership with those island states to address the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels, and we will continue to do so. It is also right for the UK to address the concerns of SIDS about the implications for their statehood of potential future rising sea levels.

It has been the long-held position of the UK under successive governments that the normal criteria applied for recognition of statehood are that the entity should have, and seem likely to continue to have, a clearly defined territory with a permanent population under effective control of the Government, and independence in external relations. The UK has, however, accepted that other factors may also be relevant.

In this respect, His Majesty’s Government acknowledges the real and present challenge that rising sea levels induced by climate change pose for states. As sea-levels rise, coastlines are likely to regress, and territory may become completely inundated and lost. Such scenarios should not automatically call into question the statehood of those island states already recognised by the UK, nor should the disappearance of one of the normal criteria for statehood necessarily require us to withdraw recognition.

I can confirm that in such scenarios the starting point for His Majesty’s Government is to continue to recognise a state, notwithstanding the loss of some or all of its land territory to rising sea levels. Due regard would then need to be given to the prevailing circumstances in each case, which would include – among other considerations – the other criteria of statehood set out above, and the wishes of the people of that state.

These would, in modern times, be situations without precedent, and if they arise, the international community should approach them with due care and sensitivity.

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2026-09-15.hlws355.0