The Voice of America claimed in the article “Big Polluters and Small Island Countries Conflict on Climate Change” that climate change threatens the survival of Pacific island countries due to rising sea levels, and other countries should compensate them. , such as the United States. This statement is wrong and lacks any scientific basis. Data refutes any claims by island nations that they are losing land to rising sea levels
Voice of America stated:
Nearly 100 countries and more than a dozen intergovernmental organizations will give evidence in the two-week legal process, which begins on Monday and ends on December 13.
…
The judge's opinion is advisory and not legally binding.
Recent proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have thrust into the spotlight the claims of small island states who claim that rising sea levels due to climate change threaten their existence. These countries seek to hold major polluters legally responsible for the alleged damage. However, closer examination of scientific evidence and observable reality challenges the basis for these claims.
Many Pacific islands are atolls – rings of coral reefs surrounding lagoons. Contrary to claims of inevitable submergence, atolls have shown a remarkable ability to adapt to changes in sea level. Research shows that these landforms can grow and adjust in response to environmental changes. A study published in nature communications The study found that despite rising sea levels, 88.6% of Tuvalu's islands have remained stable or increased in size in recent decades.
The New York Times (NYT) recently published an article titled “A Surprising Climate Discovery,” explaining that island nations such as Kiribati, the Maldives, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu are not actually facing sinking Danger. Oceans due to climate change. This is true; a fact is climate realism It has been discussed many times. Atolls have been known to grow as water levels rise for years, if not decades.
“Climate Overview: Islands and Sea Level Rise” also confirms the fact that Tuvalu, particularly the poster child for islands often considered threatened by sea level rise, “is home to eight of Tuvalu's nine large coral atolls.” These have grown in size in recent decades, with 75% of Tuvalu's 101 smaller coral reef islands also increasing in size. This expansion is caused by the natural process of accumulation of coral fragments and sediment, leaving the environment untouched. Reefs can maintain their land mass. In short, there is no scientific basis for the idea that these islands will inevitably sink.
Another argument raised in court was the concept of “climate refugees” from sinking islands, a concept often invoked in discussions about the effects of climate change. However, there is a distinct lack of documented cases of populations being displaced solely by rising sea levels. For example, despite concerns, people in Tuvalu were not forced to evacuate a lot ofrather, its population and that of other similarly situated island nations grew. When migration occurs in these islands, it is driven by economic opportunity rather than environmental factors.
Contrary to depictions of Pacific island nations on the verge of disappearing, many are actively investing in infrastructure to promote tourism—an industry incompatible with the concept of imminent submergence. For example, Fiji has experienced a tourism boom, resulting in the development of new resorts and the expansion of existing resorts. InterContinental Hotels Group is expanding its presence in Fiji with new projects in areas such as Nadi, the Islands and Suva.
Likewise, other Pacific countries such as Kiribati are strengthening their tourism infrastructure, such as building hotels and improving airports, signaling confidence in their long-term viability. This trend suggests that these countries are unaware of the existential threat posed by rising sea levels, as such investments would be imprudent if they were about to be inundated by rising sea levels.
Holding so-called polluters legally responsible for the alleged impacts of climate change on small island nations is legally untenable. Climate change is not harming the islands, which is an essential part of any legal claim. In addition, the United States argued at the ICJ hearing that international human rights law does not oblige states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, nor does it provide for a human right to a healthy environment. This position highlights the challenge of attributing specific environmental changes to the actions of states, given the multifaceted nature of climate dynamics.
Small island nations’ concerns about climate change appear to be more about securing funding from rich countries, as scientific evidence shows that many Pacific atolls can not only survive but adapt and thrive. The absence of climate refugees and the aggressive expansion of tourism infrastructure further challenges claims of imminent existential threats. The basis for legal action against developed countries thus appears to be weak, as the alleged harm lacks a clear and direct causal link to their actions.
Given these facts, the lawsuit being pushed appears to be nothing more than legal extortion using alarmist narratives of rising sea levels caused by climate change to win a lawsuit that actually has no factual or legal basis. Even if the case were to be ruled in favor of the island countries, they would not be able to enforce the “advisory” rulings against other countries, rendering the outcome essentially meaningless.
Anthony Watts
Anthony Watts is a senior fellow in environment and climate at the Heartland Institute. Since 1978, Watts has been in the weather business both in front of and behind the camera as a live television meteorologist and currently oversees daily broadcast forecasts. He created television weather graphics presentation systems, professional weather instruments, and co-authored peer-reviewed papers on climate issues. He runs the world's most viewed climate website, the award-winning wattsupwiththat.com.
Originally published in Climaterealism
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