CLIMATE CHANGE RISK TO MARITIME BOUNDARIES: A TAILORED METHODOLOGY FOR THE BLUE PACIFIC

Abstract

Climate change and sea-level rise threatens the wellbeing and security of the peoples of the Pacific, as it poses a major challenge to ocean jurisdictions and rights over critical resources for large ocean Pacific Islands Countries (PICs). Increasing concerns on challenges posed by climate change to maritime boundaries in the Pacific, and the need for decision-ready products motivated the development of a methodology of climate change risk assessment tailored for the Blue Pacific. The aim of this work is to develop a methodology to address the implications of climate change on maritime zones considering technical, scientific, and legal aspects. The methodology consists of a climate change risk assessment to the maritime features used to generate maritime zones by the states under analysis. The aim of this assessment is to identify and prioritise features with the highest risk of destabilising maritime zones, to conduct in-depth analysis, and to recommend adaptation options.