The Cayman Institute is an apolitical, privately funded, non profit organization established to consider the long term effects and implications of diverse technological, sociological, economical and cultural issues to the Cayman Islands. Its members work on a voluntary basis and offer strategic plans for consideration to guide the delivery of nearer term projects, so as not to jeopardize the future of the islands' infrastructure, financial and human resources.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Vanishing Island States and sovereignty
Abstract
Sea level rise could bring about an event that has not previously been seen in modern history, that of the physical disappearance of some low-lying Island States.
The objective of this paper is to examine what are the likely scenarios for some of these islands in the course of the next century, and analyse for each scenario if these Island States could continue to claim an Exclusive Economic Zone or not.
Also, it will analyse the possibility that Island States could continue having some sort of status analogous to state- hood even if it was to lose all territory. Finally, the idea of a ‘‘government-in-exile’’ will be discussed, where the State could retain its identity waiting for a future re-emergence of the island. More >>>