At the end of November, Prof Clive Schofield visited the University of Aberdeen. Clive is Head of Research at the WMU-Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute, World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden and Senior Professor with the Australian Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong (UOW), Australia.
During his visit, Prof Schofield met with researchers of both centres and delivered a research seminar. The seminar was very well attended by research staff, as well as PhD and LLM students. The presentation outlined the causes and consequences of climate change induced sea level rise. It considered the sea level rise predictions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change latest report. The legal framework for coastal baselines and insular features established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea was outlined before consideration of the impacts of sea level rise on baselines along the coast on which claims to maritime zones depend. The work of the International Law Association (ILA) Committee on International Law and Sea Level Rise and the International Law Commission’s study Group on Sea Level Rise and International Law were highlighted. Potential physical as well as legal response options were explored and their practical and legal implications assessed. Clive also shared his extensive experience in assisting and research on international litigation on maritime issues.
Both AUCEL and ACCPIL are grateful to Prof Schofield for his visit and sharing his expertise.