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Thin-walled tubes have exhibited extraordinary advantages in lightweight and energy absorption for impact scenarios. In this paper, several new twisted cellular thin-walled tube structures were designed and studied. The configurations are obtained by twisting hexagonal, re-entrant, and square. Effects of twist angle and porous types on the compressive behaviors of the structure were studied by experiments and finite element models. Then, effects on the deformation modes, specific energy absorption (SEA), and crushing force efficiency (CFE) of thin-walled tubes at different crushing velocities were analyzed. The finite element models are established, and the finite element simulation results are verified by experimental results, which are in good agreement. Results show that twist angle and crushing velocities have significant effects on the compression behaviors of twisted thin-walled tubes. And when the twist angle exists, the instability direction of the thin-walled tube sample will change with the twist angle. The instability direction is generally the middle of the symmetry axis between the top surface and the bottom surface. Under quasi-static compression, the force-displacement curves obtained when twisted thin-walled tubes are compressed are not similar, and there is no obvious law for SEA and CFE. When the crushing velocity becomes larger, the influence of the overlapping region (OR) becomes obvious and the crushing process becomes more stable. The force-displacement curves are similar for the three porous types, and SEA and CFE are regular due to the influence of overlapping regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The refraction phenomenon causes ICESat-2 nearshore bathymetry errors by deviating seafloor photons' coordinates. A refraction correction method based on ATL03 photon parameter tracking was proposed to improve the ICESat-2 bathymetry accuracy. The method begins by searching for sea–air intersections using photon parameters. Instead of relying on mathematical operations, it uses logical relations to establish a relationship between the seafloor and the surface, which improves efficiency. Then, a refraction correction model is designed based on Snell's law for different sea surface fluctuations. This model is clear and suitable for scholars new to refraction correction. The results show the effectiveness of the proposed method since the RMSE is reduced by 1.8842 m~5.2319 m compared with the raw data. Our method has better tolerance than other methods at different water depth ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Nicaragua v Colombia, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) identified a rule in customary international law which prohibited a state from asserting an extended continental shelf (ECS) that encroaches on maritime areas within 200 nautical miles (NM) of another state. While the ICJ reached this conclusion based on the practice of states parties' submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), in which a vast majority of states parties had refrained from asserting an ECS that extends within the 200 M line of another state, the ICJ's approach appears flawed. On an inductive examination of the existing CLCS submissions, it is evident that while a number of states have exercised restraint when asserting their ECS, the CLCS submissions do not indicate sufficiently widespread and uniform state practice nor opinio juris supporting the identification of a customary rule as asserted by the ICJ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesopelagic species, which inhabit depths between 200 to 1000 m, have regained attention as potential new resources to replace and supplement the use of traditionally overfished species. Research and exploratory fishing are ongoing, yet much on the nature of mesopelagic organisms and their roles within ecosystems and the carbon cycle remains to be understood. Building on recent reports and reflecting on fisheries developments, this article examines some of the unique characteristics of the mesopelagic zone and the existing international legal framework to stimulate legal debate on the sustainable management of mesopelagic fish stocks in the high seas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After reducing their humanitarian presence at sea, States have begun to interfere with Search and Rescue (SAR) operations led by NGOs aimed to render assistance to migrants in distress. In Italy, the recent Law-Decree 1/2023 on NGOs' SAR activities constitutes an important development grounding States' efforts to interfere with activists' operations. In this article, I first describe the practices of delay and/or denial of disembarkation that Italy has implemented. Second, I consider whether these strategies stemming from national legislation are compliant with the State's international obligations under the law of the sea. I show how the law of the sea provides some regulation but also leaves crucial gaps which amplify the State's discretion in interpreting legal duties. Third, I assess how the new Law interferes with the rights of rescuers. I conclude that Italy's interference with the human rights of rescuers operating at sea is not fully compliant with international legal obligations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volcanic eruptions can have various consequences, including in the field of the international law of the sea. This article addresses the impact that two volcanic eruptions had on the baselines for measuring the breadth of Iceland's territorial sea. First, the impact of the eruption in 1918 in Katla was addressed by the Supreme Court of Iceland in 1922 which confirmed a district court decision stating that the territorial sea line was not a fixed or determined line on the sea but changed with avulsions and accretions. Second, the sudden appearance of the volcanic island Surtsey in 1963 affected the drawing of straight baselines along the southwestern coast of Iceland. This article addresses the impact of these eruptions on the territorial sea baseline and explains their relevance for current challenges in international law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Jurídica Portucalense is the property of Revista Juridica Portucalense and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article focuses on the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law's request for an advisory opinion from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) regarding the obligations of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) concerning marine pollution and the marine environment in the context of climate change.

The United Nations Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea recently held a meeting to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by new maritime technologies. The meeting focused on topics such as capacity-building, international cooperation, sustainable development, and addressing threats to the ocean. Panel presentations covered a wide range of subjects, including the legal framework for international cooperation, technology transfer, renewable energy, and the role of the private sector. The discussions emphasized the need for collaboration, funding, and governance to effectively utilize new maritime technologies. The text also mentions future topics of discussion, such as blue food, ocean observing infrastructure, and climate interventions. [Extracted from the article]

The document titled "Oceans and the Law of the Sea Report of the Secretary-General, 1 September 2023" provides a comprehensive overview of major developments related to ocean affairs and the law of the sea. It emphasizes the threats posed to the ocean by human activities, including overexploitation, pollution, and climate change. The report also discusses the legal and policy framework established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and provides updates on the number of parties to the Convention. It covers various aspects of maritime issues, including efforts to address migrant smuggling and search and rescue at sea, maritime safety and security, and the impact of climate change on the ocean. The document highlights global and regional initiatives aimed at promoting the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, protecting the marine environment, and addressing challenges such as plastic pollution. It also emphasizes the need for enhanced cooperation and collaboration to achieve sustainable ocean management and protect marine biodiversity. [Extracted from the article]

The document titled "Oceans and the Law of the Sea Report of the Secretary-General, 14 March 2023" provides an overview of new maritime technologies and their challenges and opportunities. It emphasizes the importance of technology in sustainable development and managing human uses of the ocean. The report discusses the role of new technologies in mitigating climate change, exploring non-living resources, and addressing the impacts of human activities. It highlights advancements in deep-sea mining, offshore renewable energy, shipping, fisheries, aquaculture, and maritime safety and security. The adoption of these technologies faces challenges such as high costs and technical complexity, but international cooperation is crucial for their successful implementation. The text also addresses the need for increased awareness and management of cyberrisks and emphasizes the importance of responsible development and continuous evolution of the legal and regulatory framework. [Extracted from the article]

In 2016, an American autonomous underwater glider was seized by the Chinese navy in the South China Sea. The United States considered this a hostile act as the glider was sovereign immune. The Chinese maintained they were merely detaining an unknown craft to properly identify it. The glider was subsequently returned to the United States. Despite this incident ending somewhat peacefully, the issues that led to and stem from it are far from resolved. Was China right in detaining an unidentified object? Or was the United States right asserting that all craft are covered by sovereign immunity if so declared? Can autonomous vessels even have sovereign immunity? These issues are symptomatic of the technological age and the struggle of law to keep pace with constant advancements: new types of vessels do not fit neatly into the definitions of current international law, putting them in regulatory limbo. If not addressed, this could lead to an escalated incident in the future. This article considers the challenges of classifying autonomous vessels under international law, the function of sovereign immunity at sea, and whether it can apply to autonomous vessels. It will also consider potential methods for clarifying the issue at law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

States are increasingly turning to novel solutions to achieve their energy goals. In response, floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs) have emerged as a potential solution to meet the energy demands of remote and coastal areas. "Build Own Operate" programs have thus been proposed as turnkey commercial endeavors in which supplier States rent FNPP power generation to foreign host States. Given the inherent risks that FNPPs pose, a Build Own Operate plant travelling from supplier nation to host nation jeopardizes the marine environment of innocent coastal States. These transit States currently exist in international law limbo, where the lack of a coherent FNPP definition and limited control over their territorial sea and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) render them powerless in the face of potential environmental disasters. This article proposes enhanced international law protections for the transit States that might see FNPPs travelling through their waters in the coming years. In examining challenges to transit States, the article accomplishes two objectives. First, an international law definition for FNPPs is established. Second, it is proposed that FNPPs should be barred from non-consensual travel through the territorial sea of transit States, and that major restrictions should be placed on their movement through the EEZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the wake of the recent adoption of the BBNJ Agreement, the commentary has focused on the final agreed text of the Agreement. This commentary takes a different approach and considers the BBNJ Agreement within the broader context of UNCLOS and its implementation agreements, namely, the Part XI Agreement and the UN Fish Stocks Agreement, given that when the BBNJ Agreement enters into force, it will take its place as the third implementation agreement under UNCLOS. As the point of departure, this commentary uses the work and words of one of the key architects of the UNCLOS regime, the late Ambassador Satya Nandan, as a historical lens through which to comment on the BBNJ Agreement. This commentary considers how the BBNJ Agreement was influenced by the history of the making of UNCLOS and its implementation agreements, how that history may inform the BBNJ Agreement's entry into force, and how the BBNJ Agreement may further develop the UNCLOS regime. This commentary concludes that the making of the BBNJ Agreement is not only a continuation of that shared history—but that the BBNJ Agreement "rhymes" with that history in such a way that progresses the law of the sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the Philippine Supreme Court's landmark ruling declaring the Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking (JMSU) unconstitutional, emphasizing its implications for Philippine foreign policy and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The JMSU, an agreement between China, Vietnam, and the Philippines for joint exploration in a contested maritime area, was challenged for contravening the Philippine Constitution's provisions on national sovereignty over natural resources. The decision reaffirms the Philippines' sovereign rights and sets a legal precedent emphasizing the primacy of the Philippine Constitution in international agreements on natural resource exploration. This article discusses the decision's significant impact on Philippine foreign policy, the ongoing territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea, and its wider relevance to diplomacy and international law. The ruling marks a critical affirmation of Philippine sovereignty and adherence to legal norms, shaping the country's future diplomatic relations and stressing the importance of constitutional fidelity in international agreements, especially within the contentious South China Sea areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the 2022 Agreement between the Italian Republic and the Republic of Croatia on the delimitation of their exclusive economic zones. The Agreement marks a significant step forward in international relations and maritime law, reflecting a mutual commitment to resolving maritime boundaries in accordance with international law. The two States have agreed that the delimitation line of the EEZs aligns with the continental shelf boundary between the Parties, as defined by the 1968 Agreement, and the 2005 Technical Correction Agreement. Moreover, since cooperation in the North Adriatic basin, both bilateral and trilateral with Slovenia, remains an important cornerstone for their relationships, they also approved a Joint Declaration on the Adriatic Sea's Resources. This Declaration has a particular focus on preservation of the marine Adriatic environment to improve connectivity, security and cooperation in the blue economy sectors. This article, after providing the historical and legal context of the international relations between Italy and Croatia in the field of maritime cooperation, seeks to conduct a thorough examination of the 2022 Agreement, with particular reference to the methodology employed for delimitation, as well as the conflict clause and dispute settlement mechanisms introduced. In addition, the article will consider the issue of resources management, as set out in the 2022 Joint Declaration. The analysis is intended to determine the consistency of the Agreement with the law of the sea, whilst also highlighting prospective challenges and assessing Italy's contribution to formulating strategies for the forthcoming management of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this piece is to provide a brief overview of Benedetto Conforti's work as a scholar of the law of the sea. Through a careful analysis of State practice, he justified the exercise of State power at sea on the basis of a functional approach, whereby the extent of a coastal State's powers was to be determined in accordance with the protection of specific interests related to a coastal community. When a spatial approach prevailed in the codification of the law of the sea, Conforti, while acknowledging the evolution that had taken place, reiterated the importance of the functional approach to explain the progressive extension of State powers at sea to new areas of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dr Marja Lehto is Ambassador for International Legal Affairs at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, and Adjunct Professor of International Law at the University of Helsinki. She was a member of the United Nations (UN) International Law Commission (ILC) and served as the Special Rapporteur for the topic "Protection of the Environment in Relation to Armed Conflicts" from 2017 to 2022. Dr Lehto is also a member of the Council of the International Institute of Humanitarian Law since 2019. She has formerly served, inter alia , as Legal Adviser to the Finnish UN Mission in New York (1995–2000), as Head of the Unit for Public International Law (2000–09), and as Finland's Ambassador to Luxembourg (2009–14). For most of her career, she has worked on issues related to international peace and security, including international criminal justice and international humanitarian law (IHL), and she has published on a broad range of international legal questions related to the law of the sea, international environmental law (IEL), State succession, use of force, armed conflicts, terrorism and cyber security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholarship on law of the sea has become increasingly critical in recent years, but such a critical perspective is not easily implemented in the teaching of the subject. Given that little to no scholarship has engaged with the teaching practice of law of the sea, it seems timely to consider more carefully the research-teaching nexus in this field of law, which I seek to do through this essay. Drawing on critical pedagogy, I explain how I seek to encourage dialogic learning, to de-emphasise presumably authoritative voices, and to decentre the law in my teaching of law of the sea. I also consider some of the challenges that I have encountered in my efforts to decentre the teacher and the law, which mainly relate to arguably inherent tensions within critical pedagogy and to the contemporary higher education environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article charts three different approaches that international courts and tribunals have taken to marine life. Some have viewed marine life primarily as an economic resource, worthy of conservation only in order to ensure future exploitation. Others have seen marine life as an object of conservation in its own right. Yet others have tried to balance the two perspectives. The article also examines the sources that seem to have influenced the judges, finding that these range from the applicable law to external sources and contested legal principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By codifying the law of the sea, its rules are systematized. From the point of view of how the codification of the law of the sea is carried out, it can be: unofficial codification and official codification. The unofficial codification of the law of the sea is carried out in the form of numerous codification projects developed by some doctrinaires. Unofficial coding is not mandatory for its subjects. The official codification of the law of the sea is carried out by the states. It has a binding character for the subjects of the law of the sea, insofar as they recognize the codification acts (becoming parties to the codification conventions). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After almost two decades of discussions and negotiations, the legally binding instrument on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction ('BBNJ') was adopted on 19 June 2023, of which Environment Impact Assessment ('EIA') is one of the key pillars. Given that EIA in the new instrument is proposed with a view to the conservation and sustainable use of marine life in areas beyond national jurisdiction, flag States should mainly have an obligation to regulate EIA by applying their domestic legislation. However, for some activities involving many vessels, marine structures, and cables, EIA by flag States may not work effectively. EIAs for offshore windfarm activities may be particularly difficult. Against this background, this study explores how international legal rules should regulate EIAs of offshore windfarms established in areas beyond national jurisdiction. In particular, this study considers which States should have EIA obligations from the perspective of both lex lata and lex ferenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since being described as a 'constitution for the oceans' at its adoption in 1982, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ('LOSC') has evolved to hold a special status among multilateral treaties. As a constitution--actual or perceived--the LOSC has provided the framework and processes for a relatively dynamic law of the sea that has developed to address new environmental, technological and geopolitical challenges in the forty years since its adoption. By necessity however, these developments have been incremental in nature and have been confined by the parameters of the LOSC constitution. In this article, I argue that such incremental change will be insufficient if the law of the sea is to adapt to the Anthropocene, our current geological and geopolitical Epoch. In this article, I argue that the characterisation of the LOSC as a 'constitution for the oceans' has become a straitjacket for the regime and is preventing the serious exploration of alternative epistemological imaginaries of the law of the sea. I argue for a quiet abandonment of the description of the LOSC as a 'constitution for the oceans' and the actual and perceived consequences of the appellation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historians of science increasingly turn to ocean spaces, especially fromthe mid-twentieth century, when oceanography adopted new strategic and economic significance during and after World War II. Yet, the overdetermination of oceanography's historiography by histories of conflict obscures the role that empire--its continuities and its ends--played in the transformation of ocean science and politics at the same time. This essay builds on recent work seeking to recover the role of empire's endurance and its long shadows in the construction of mid-twentieth-century ocean science, politics, and law. Focusing on deepsea sediments, I parse the work of H.M.S. Challenger (1872-1876) naturalist-cum-Challenger Office director John Murray alongside that of American economic geologist John Mero, who in the mid-twentieth century articulated all seabeds as storehouses of vast mineral wealth. Murray's sedimentological taxonomies and representations as well as his collected data on global oozes, nodules included, formed much of the basis for Mero's work. And, both Murray and Mero leveraged sediments to argue for proprietary positions premised on priority-in-time for resource discovery claims, and exclusive access based upon scientific knowledge and technical ability, bothmasked by tropes of equal access and opportunity. These data and practices helped Northern scientists build and maintain control over knowledge of the seabed and the value of its resources, as postcolonial and Cold War impetuses rearranged political and economic order at sea. Historicizing abyssal oozes illuminates the character of contemporary conflicts over the future of the international seabed, asking, who determines how the seabed will be valued? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Codrul Cosminului is the property of Codrul Cosminului and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The vastness of the oceans and the limited abilities, or interests, of participants to exert powers seaward have allowed perpetrators of various criminal activities to evade authorities while conducting unthinkable human rights violations. Ocean 'exclusivity' confines the lawfulness of interventions by other participants to limited exclusions. But such governance promotes the optimum order only if the relevant state is willing and able to prevent severe deprivations of human rights. As the concept of sovereignty has undergone a process of evolution to impose limits on states' discretion in adversely affecting others, ocean exclusivity must be confined to reduce, or even eliminate, severe deprivations of human rights. This Article proposes that ocean-based exclusivity of states, whether over vessels or spatial areas, must retreat in face of that state's unwillingness or inability to prevent or cure severe deprivations of human rights, in favor of inclusive powers. Using ocean slavery as an example, this Article demonstrates that in applying both the textual-rules-based and the contextual-policy-based modes of decision-making, a participant's decision to intervene to arrest, prevent, and reverse severe deprivations of human rights over the oceans in lieu of another State's exclusivity is a lawful international policy. This proposed adjustment of the norms will serve as a starting point for the international legal process to reshape ocean exclusivity and human rights in the twenty-first century to attune the Law of the Sea to changing norms and interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unclear, contested definitions and high complexity have been used to explain why ecosystem-based management (EBM) has been hard to implement. This still seems to be a problem, judging from the unspecific references to it in recent international instruments and other approaches being preferred. This article argues that an essential definition of EBM that captures its indispensable roles can clarify its meaning. Beyond that, a wide diversity can be found due to adaptations to different ecological, social, and political contexts. In short, EBM entails managing human activities for sustainable use, so the cumulative impacts of uses are kept below critical thresholds for the ecosystem to be managed. The specific integrative role of EBM is integration across ecosystem components, governance arrangements, and broad strands of knowledge in support of management. This understanding should not be controversial and is supported by approaches to implementing EBM in Norway and the EU. Their approaches to EBM for the oceans share key characteristics: They operate on similar spatial scales; use strategic planning; define cyclic, adaptive processes with similar content; and apply management by objectives. With the proclaimed nature crisis, renewed attention to the definition and implementation of EBM is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 19 June 2023, member States of the United Nations adopted, by consensus, the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). The BBNJ Agreement seeks to address one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century—managing our deep ocean environment, including its ecosystems and resources, in a way that does not lead to its long-term decline and maintains its potential to meet the needs of present and future generations. This article assesses the BBNJ Agreement through an analysis of its application to deep-sea vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs). As VMEs represent a key component of marine biodiversity and are particularly susceptible to anthropogenic disturbance, they provide a useful medium for undertaking a legal analysis of the provisions, rules, and procedures of the recently adopted instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is affecting all habitats and faucets of life, rural as well urban environs. Urban localities are the main contributors to global warming due to the carbon emissions released through human intervention in the climate system. City dwellers also become the victims of climate change and natural vagaries, Climate change disasters. In order to reduce these risks, cities have adopted strategies to enhance their resilience to climate change disasters and to create resilience. In this context, the United Nations has adopted several legal tools, most notably the Framework Convention on Climate Change. However, these tools have not been effective due to the minimal role of the organizations responsible. Also, the inability of major nations to meet their obligations in decreasing greenhouse gas emissions constitutes a primary contributor to the hazards endangering the survival of urban habitants. The aim of the research study was also to demonstrate the impact of resilience in reducing climate change and mitigating its effects, thereby increasing the elasticity of the environmental system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amendment or removal of superfluous government support policies is typically difficult, yet in the ever more important debate on low-carbon (i.e., clean) marine energy policy under the international law of climate action, the law of the sea, and international investment protection, there are additional dimensions of legal or economic peril. Coastal states enact policies subsidising clean energy investments, such as offshore wind energy generation, in their exclusive economic zones or continental shelves. Investors are attracted to the prospect that policies granting subsidies for ostensibly new industries are sufficiently durable. Are such subsidy policies salient or stale? In principle, the purpose of regulatory policy is the promotion of social welfare, and hence, there is an optimal incidence, magnitude, and duration of the subsidy, in essence, an ideal strategy for starting, altering, or exiting such policy. We aim to introduce the concept of optimisation to the design and implementation of regulatory policy in this context. Our contribution is to offer three maxims of optimal clean marine energy law and policy: the efficiency and equity of alternative regulatory arrangements; the continuous optimisation of such arrangements; and the recognition of linguistic entanglements in the law. We test these maxims against the case of clean marine energy policy on offshore wind energy generation. One legal implication for international investment protection is that coastal states should establish a policy exit clause in their investment contracts. Our analysis of policy optimisation is generalisable across policies supporting the transition to sustainable energy forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In April 2022, the ICJ pronounced its judgments on the merits in Alleged Violations of Sovereign Rights and Maritime Spaces in the Caribbean Sea (Nicaragua v Colombia). While the judgment makes interesting contributions to the law of the sea jurisprudence, the Court's problematic finding on jurisdiction ratione temporis is the subject of this paper. Applying what it refers to as 'continuity' and 'connexity' criteria, it found that Colombia's withdrawal from the Pact of Bogotá would not prevent it from considering facts submitted by Nicaragua which arose after the Pact ceased to be in force for Colombia. An in-depth analysis of the jurisprudence the judgment referred to reveals that the Court was building on convoluted cases, some of which have conflated questions of jurisdiction and admissibility. Based on the Court's jurisprudence, this paper argues for a more systematic approach to dealing with preliminary issues arising from new claims and submissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sinking Islands form part of the dystopian reality faced by a world increasingly affected by climate breakdown today. As reported, around the world, 'many islands are slowly but surely being submerged'. This article enquires into the potential role that the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) may have, in its advisory capacity, in tackling the effects of climate change. In particular, this article deals with two broad issues: (i) it identifies the potential benefits and risks of an ITLOS Advisory Opinion on the issue of climate change under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and (ii) it examines the questions that COSIS recently posed to the tribunal, a number of sub-questions and relevant provisions under UNCLOS are further identified, and whether the Commission on Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law has complied with the procedural rules of ITLOS to trigger its advisory functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to clarify the obligations of States under the law of the sea to put children's human rights at the heart of decision-making on the protection of the marine environment, particularly at the ocean-climate nexus. The relevance of the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and in particular, children's human right to be heard in the context of existing provisions on deep-sea mining activities under the International Seabed Authority and the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction are discussed. Reflections on more ambitious approaches to integrating intergenerational dialogue within international ocean fora, as ways to implement intergenerational equity and protect humankind at the ocean-climate nexus, on the basis of good practices in the area of children's human rights are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global plastics pollution crisis has multiple visible and invisible effects on marine, land and air environments. Fossil fuel-based plastics production is projected to triple by 2060, driving a plastics lifecycle that exacerbates climate change, contaminates ecosystems and poses risks to human rights, especially the human right to health. Existing governance measures help tackle plastics waste pollution but cannot effectively address its systemic nature. Drafting a Global Plastics Treaty, due for adoption in 2025, is an opportunity to design ambitious international plastics governance. This article argues for a human rights-based approach to the proposed treaty's framing and substance by integrating, in particular, the human right to health, supplemented by the human right to a healthy environment. Embedding human rights considerations through a precautionary and preventative approach, shifting responsibility to polluters and showing concern for intergenerational equity would combat plastics pollution, accelerate climate action, protect ocean ecosystems and safeguard human rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]