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Countries should keep their statehood if land disappears under sea, experts say
Countries should keep their statehood if land disappears under sea, experts say

The Guardian

time10 hours ago

  • Politics
  • The Guardian

Countries should keep their statehood if land disappears under sea, experts say

States should be able to continue politically even if their land disappears underwater, legal experts have said. The conclusions come from a long-awaited report by the International Law Commission that examined what existing law means for continued statehood and access to key resources if sea levels continue to rise due to climate breakdown. Average sea levels could rise by as much as 90cm (3ft) by 2100 if climate scientists' worst-case scenarios come true, and recent research suggests they could even exceed projections. This is particularly important for small island developing states because many face an existential threat. But as well as the direct loss of land, rising sea levels cause flooding, threaten drinking water supplies and make farmland too salty to grow on. Having waded through international law and scholarship and analysed state views and practices, legal experts concluded that nothing prevents nations from maintaining their maritime boundaries even if the land on which they are drawn changes or disappears. These boundaries give countries navigation rights, access to resources such as fishing and minerals, and a degree of political control. There is also general agreement that affected nations should retain their statehood to avoid loss of nationality. Legal experts say these conclusions are essential for maintaining international peace and stability. Speaking at the UN Oceans conference in Nice, Penelope Ridings, an international lawyer and member of the ILC, said the commission's work was driven by the 'fundamental sense of injustice' that sea level rise would be felt worst by the most vulnerable states, which had also contributed the least to the problem. Research has found that a third of present-day sea level rise can be traced to emissions from the 122 largest fossil fuel producers and cement manufacturers. The Pacific nation of Tuvalu has been particularly vocal in its concerns. Sea levels on its nine islands and atolls have already risen by 4.8mm and are expected to get much higher over the coming decades. Australia was the first country to recognise the permanence of Tuvalu's boundaries despite rising sea levels. In 2023, it signed a legally binding treaty committing to help Tuvalu respond to major disasters and offering special visas to citizens who want or need to move. Nearly a third of citizens have entered a ballot for such a visa. Latvia followed with a similar pledge of recognition. At the oceans conference, the Tuvaluan prime minister, Feleti Teo, said his citizens were determined to stay on their land for as long as possible. The government has just finished the first phase of a coastal adaptation project, building concrete barriers to reduce flooding and dredging sand to create additional land. Teo noted that the US$40m scheme was 'very expensive' and it had taken years to secure money from the Green Climate Fund. He urged Tuvalu's development partners to be 'more forthcoming in terms of providing the necessary climate financing that we need to be able to adapt. And to give us more time to live in the land that we believe God has given us and we intend to remain on'. Ridings said it was now up to states to take the commission's work forward. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion Bryce Rudyk, a professor of international environmental law at New York University and legal adviser to the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis), said the ILC had been very responsive to small states, which have traditionally not had their voices heard in matters of international law but are increasingly at the forefront of legal advances on climate change and marine degradation. In recent years, Aosis and the Pacific Islands Forum have both declared that their statehood and sovereignty, as well as their membership of intergovernmental organisations such as the UN, will continue regardless of sea level rise. The international court of justice, which will issue a highly anticipated advisory opinion on climate change in the coming months, was petitioned by Aosis to affirm this.

Sky Sports: Sunderland in ‘Advanced Talks' to Sign £18m Ligue 1 Star
Sky Sports: Sunderland in ‘Advanced Talks' to Sign £18m Ligue 1 Star

Yahoo

time18 hours ago

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Sky Sports: Sunderland in ‘Advanced Talks' to Sign £18m Ligue 1 Star

Sunderland Eye Premier League Stability with Bulka Talks Underway Fresh from their dramatic 2-1 victory over Sheffield United in the Championship Play-Off Final, Sunderland are wasting no time preparing for life back in the Premier League. According to Sky Sports News' Keith Downie, the club have opened talks with French side OGC Nice over the signing of Marcin Bulka, signalling clear intent to strengthen their squad in key areas. Advertisement The 25-year-old Polish international has been identified by the Black Cats as a key target to challenge Anthony Patterson for the No.1 shirt. Towering at 6ft5in, Bulka's profile certainly fits the bill for a Premier League goalkeeper, and with only one year left on his contract, Sunderland appear poised to make a shrewd move. 'Talks surround a deal in the region of £18m, but no agreement is in place between the two clubs at this stage,' Sky Sports reported. Photo: IMAGO Prioritising Premier League Readiness It is clear that Sunderland's recruitment strategy has shifted since their Wembley triumph. With the top flight looming, the need to bolster the core of the squad is more urgent than ever. Sky Sports notes that the club are 'looking to strengthen the spine of their team,' and bringing in Bulka would do just that. Advertisement There's a tactical intelligence behind this move. While Patterson has impressed during Sunderland's promotion campaign, adding experienced top-flight competition between the posts could be vital to their survival ambitions. Bulka, who previously worked with soon-to-be-confirmed Sporting Director Florent Ghisolfi at Nice, has a blend of European experience and physical presence that Premier League clubs often demand from their shot-stoppers. Contract Situation Presents Opportunity What adds intrigue to this transfer is Bulka's contract situation. The Polish keeper has 'rebuffed a renewal' from Nice, effectively putting the Ligue 1 side in a position where selling him now may be their best option. From Sunderland's perspective, it could be a calculated move to land a high-potential player at a reasonable fee. At £18 million, it's certainly not a budget deal, but it reflects both the ambition of the club and the pressing need to ensure they don't make the common mistake of underinvesting upon promotion. Familiar Faces and Strategic Moves Bulka's previous relationship with Ghisolfi, who has yet to be officially unveiled by Sunderland, adds another layer to this developing story. Ghisolfi is expected to bring a data-driven, continental approach to recruitment, and this potential signing could be a sign of what's to come. That Ghisolfi and Bulka have worked together before suggests trust and mutual understanding — qualities that can fast-track adaptation in a new environment. Advertisement 'Bulka, a Polish international, has just a year left on his contract at Nice and has rebuffed a renewal.' It remains to be seen whether the deal gets over the line, but if Sunderland are to avoid becoming another yo-yo club, signings like this could prove critical. Our View – EPL Index Analysis Let's be honest, it still feels surreal. We're back in the Premier League! And not even a month later, we're hearing that Sunderland are negotiating an £18 million deal for a Polish international goalkeeper from Nice. If you'd told me this a year ago, I'd have laughed you out of the pub. The fact that we're going for someone like Bulka — someone with height, experience and European pedigree — shows that this club isn't just happy to be back. We're here to compete. It's also a massive show of ambition that we're not resting on our laurels with Patterson. He's been brilliant, but competition breeds excellence, and Bulka coming in could push him even further. From the outside looking in, £18m might raise eyebrows. But with the money sloshing around the top tier and considering the importance of a reliable keeper, it might end up looking like a bargain. If we pull this off, it'll be a serious statement to the rest of the league — Sunderland are not just back, they're building something.

Sunderland's Marcin Bulka hope as transfer discussions progress
Sunderland's Marcin Bulka hope as transfer discussions progress

Yahoo

timea day ago

  • Sport
  • Yahoo

Sunderland's Marcin Bulka hope as transfer discussions progress

SUNDERLAND are increasingly confident of striking a deal to sign Polish international goalkeeper Marcin Bulka. An agreement has not yet been reached but talks between the Black Cats and Nice are said to be advancing and progressing well. Advertisement Leeds United and Galatasaray have both been linked with the 25-year-old, but an advantage for Sunderland is the fact Bulka has previously worked under incoming director of football Florent Ghisolfi at Nice. Bulka is out of contract with Nice next summer and talks over an extension have broken down, with the Ligue 1 club now willing to cash in. Nice value the five-time Poland international at around £18m. RECOMMENDED READING: It's unclear at this stage as to what Bulka's arrival would mean for Anthony Patterson, who has been Sunderland's established No.1 for several years. Patterson has made more than 150 league appearances since establishing himself as first choice at the Stadium of Light three-and-a-half years ago, and the 25-year-old made two stunning and hugely important saves in the play-off final victory over Sheffield United. Advertisement But Sunderland are looking to strengthen throughout their squad and Regis Le Bris wants competition in every department as the Black Cats prepare for their return to the Premier League. Bulka moved to Chelsea from his homeland in 2016 before leaving on a free transfer to link up with PSG three years later. He made a permanent move to Nice in 2022, and has since established himself in France, where he's extremely highly-rated. His performances last season led to reports of interest from Barcelona and Manchester United. Bulka was identified as a leading target for Sunderland after the Black Cats secured promotion to the Premier League, and officials on Wearside are now hopeful of concluding a deal in the coming weeks.

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