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

Funafuti, Tuvalu. Sea levels on Tuvalu’s nine islands and atolls have already risen by 4.8mm and are expected to get much higher over the coming decades. Photograph: Tala Simeti/The Guardian

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.