STATEMENT BY MR NATHANIEL KHNG, COUNSELLOR (LEGAL), PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, INFORMAL PLENARY MEETING ON EXISTENTIAL THREATS OF SEA-LEVEL RISE AMIDST THE CLIMATE CRISIS, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 3 NOVEMBER 2023

Mr President,

1 My delegation thanks the President of the General Assembly for convening this meeting.  We align ourselves with the statement delivered by Samoa on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States.

2 My delegation’s view is that sea-level rise is ultimately a global challenge that requires a rules-based multilateral approach.  Cooperation and coordination at the global level, as well as adherence to applicable principles of international law, are required for there to be an effective response to sea-level rise and its impacts, including on territorial integrity, culture, heritage and livelihoods of people. 

3 In this regard, the International Law Commission’s work on the topic “Sea-level rise in relation to international law” is of great importance.  We thank the Co-Chairs of the Study Group, two of whom are on the panel today, for their leadership.  On the issue of maritime territorial integrity, we agree with the Co-Chairs’ preliminary observation, which was also a point that AOSIS had earlier made, that there is no obligation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the constitution for the oceans, to keep baselines and outer limits of maritime zones under review nor to update charts or lists of geographical coordinates once deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the understanding that such baselines and outer limits of maritime zones were, in the first place, strictly in accordance with UNCLOS.  The result of this would be that, for small and vulnerable low-lying States facing existential threats due to climate change-induced sea-level rise, such maritime zones, and the rights and entitlements that flow from them, can continue to apply without reduction.  For such vulnerable States, Singapore’s view is that the balance of equities when interpreting and applying UNCLOS clearly and indisputably weighs in favour of the preservation of existing maritime zones and entitlements.  We encourage further study on how the principle of equity should apply in other contexts to ensure the appropriate balance of rights and obligations under UNCLOS.

Mr President,

4 I wish to conclude by stating that Singapore stands ready to play our part in the international community’s efforts to find global solutions for issues arising from sea-level rise.

5 Thank you for your attention.

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