海平面上升對國際法的影響—以聯合國國際法委員會研究內容為核心之探討

Abstract

氣候變遷作為當代所面臨最重要的問題之一，其所帶來的不利影響已從包含經濟、社會、環境、法律等多方面衝擊人類社會。在這其中，海平面上升問題在近年來受到特別關注，並在國際法社群中引起熱烈討論。根據世界國際法學會的研究報告指出，目前海平面上升涉及國際法的議題主要包含：(1)海平面上升對於國家屬性的影響；(2)海平面上升對於沿海國基線、海域權利與疆界的影響；(3)對於受海平面上升影響人員的保護制度等三大面向，此一結論亦被國際法委員會所接受並接續進行研究。 本論文將針對上述三大議題，依序分析其對於現行國際法的影響為何，而目前的國際法規範在應對海平面上升問題時有何窒礙難行之處，又應如何解決。第一部分首先探討海平面上升淹沒一國領土，是否會導致該國被認為消亡。並在比較分析各學理與實踐解決方法後，本論文認為小島國家得以人島島嶼作為其領土要件的補充方案，且此舉不會產生不合理的海域權利，或是變相鼓勵各國大肆改建其海洋地物。第二部分關注海平面上升對國家基線、海域權利的影響，並比較探討維持基線與維持海域外部界線二解決方法的優、劣為何。最後在比較各種可能的程序管道後，總結認為小島國家可在短期內追求習慣國際法的形成，以利未來締結新的國際法律框架條約。第三部分針對受海平面上升影響人員的保護問題，從當前國際法包含人權法、難民法、災害法等體系中的法律文件，逐一探討是否得適用於受海平面上升影響人員，若不行問題又在何處。 最後在探討前三大議題後，本文認為由於海平面上升對於國際法的影響廣泛，由個別的法律體系分別進行協商與因應並不全面，無法一致性的解決各種問題。加之當前各國的政治、外交談判進度緩慢，國際組織或國際司法機構應在一定程度上扮演推動腳色，而當前國際社會向各司法機構請求諮詢意見的實踐也佐證此看法。

Climate change is one of the most important issues of our generation, and its adverse effects have impacted human society in many ways, including economic, social, environmental, and legal. Among them, the issue of sea-level rise has received special attention in recent years and has been hotly debated in the international legal community. According to the research report of the International Law Association, the current issues of international law related to sea-level rise include: (1) the effect of sea level rise on statehood; (2) the effect of sea-level rise on the coastal States’ baselines, maritime boundaries and rights; and (3) the protection of persons affected by sea-level rise. This conclusion has been recognized and further studied by the International Law Commission. This paper will sequentially analyze what are the effects of these three issues on international law and how should they be addressed. The first part examines whether the inundation of a State's territory by sea-level rise will lead to the extinction of that State. After analyzing of the theoretical and practical solutions, this paper argues that Small Island States can take artificial islands as a supplement to their territory, and it will not result in unreasonable maritime rights which might encourage States to arbitrarily transform their marine features. The second part focuses on the effect of sea-level rise on States’ baselines and maritime rights. This paper compares the advantages and disadvantages between maintaining baselines and maintaining the outer limits of maritime zones. With the discussion of various possible procedural channels, this paper then concludes that Small Island States should pursue the formation of customary international law in the short term, in order to facilitate the conclusion of an agreement in the future. The third part focuses on the protection of persons affected by sea-level rise. This paper examines whether the current international law, including human rights law, refugee law, disaster law, and other related international law instruments is applicable to people affected by sea-level rise, and if not, where the problems lie. Finally, in the conclusion this paper argues that since the extensive effect of sea-level rise on international law, it is not comprehensive for individual legal systems to negotiate and respond separately, and also impossible to solve various problems in a consistent manner. Besides, the slow progress of political and diplomatic negotiations shows that international organizations or international judicial institutions should play a role in promoting a solution, and the current practice of the international community to request advisory opinions from various judicial institutions also supports this view.