{"id":86061,"date":"2026-10-01T17:19:20","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T11:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=86061"},"modified":"2026-10-01T17:19:44","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T11:49:44","slug":"sea-level-rise-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/01-10-2026\/sea-level-rise-india","title":{"rendered":"First-ever UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise, and India\u2019s Coastal Vulnerability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The United Nations General Assembly adopted the first-ever UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise, which recognises rising sea levels as an existential threat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Status of Global Sea-Level Rise<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Sea-level rise refers<\/strong> to an increase in the <strong>average height of the ocean surface<\/strong> relative to a reference point on land or the Earth&#8217;s geocentric reference system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Low-lying island nations<\/strong> are particularly vulnerable because much of their land lies only a few metres above sea level, exposing them to <strong>coastal erosion, flooding, saltwater intrusion and the loss of habitable land.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In 2015, the low-lying <strong>Republic of Kiribati <\/strong>said that climate change effects were threatening its existence as a nation.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Global mean sea level<\/strong> is rising at an accelerating rate. The WMO estimates that the rate increased from 2.1 mm per year during 1993\u20132002 to 4.7 mm per year during 2015\u20132024.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Global Mean Sea Level<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The global mean sea level is the <strong>average height of the sea surface<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is measured by <strong>satellites using radar altimeters,<\/strong> which measure the height of the sea surface.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Tide gauges <\/strong>along global coastlines have also been used to measure the global mean sea level since the late 19th century.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Leading Causes of Sea Level Rise<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\u00a0The global warming<\/strong>-driven melting of glaciers (accumulation of ice and snow that slowly flows over land) and ice sheets (glaciers which cover more than 50,000 square km of land).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>thermal expansion of seawate<\/strong>r, a process by which water expands as it warms up.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u00a0With global temperatures rising, oceans are becoming warmer, and as a result, the volume of water is increasing as well.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thermal expansion of seawater is responsible for one-third to half of global sea level rise, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fluctuations in land water storage<\/strong>: Global sea level is also affected by reservoir storage and groundwater removal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Impacts&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Rising sea levels. <\/strong>Waves and storm surges can reach further inland, accelerating the erosion of shorelines and damaging residences, roads, ports, and other infrastructure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Saltwater intrusion<\/strong> : The incursion of seawater into coastal aquifers and farmland, thus decreasing the supply of fresh water and perhaps affecting the agricultural output.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Coastal ecosystem<\/strong>s under jeopardy: Rising sea levels, warmer waters, and changing salinity are rapidly threatening reefs of coral, mangrove forests, tidal marshes and estuaries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Displacement and Migratio<\/strong>n: Groups may be compelled to migrate due to shortage of useable land creating concerns of livelihoods, land rights, citizenship and human rights.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>UN Declaration on Sea-Level Rise<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The UN Declaration on Sea-Level Rise<\/strong>, adopted by the UN General Assembly by consensus in 2026, is the <strong>first UN-wide political framework<\/strong> specifically addressing the legal, humanitarian and developmental consequences of rising sea levels.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Background:<\/strong> The process for the UN Declaration on Sea-Level Rise began with <strong>UN General Assembly Decision 78\/558 in 2024<\/strong>, which called for a high-level meeting on the issue and an action-oriented declaration negotiated by consensus.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The 2026 high-level meeting<\/strong> subsequently led to the adoption of the Declaration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Nearly 900 million people<\/strong> currently live in low-lying coastal zones, while more than one billion people could face <strong>coastal hazards by 2050<\/strong>, highlighting the scale of the challenge.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Can a Country Retain Statehood Despite Losing Its Territory?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Under the 1933 Montevideo Convention<\/strong>, a state is defined using four main criteria: a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>However, these criteria do not fully address the continuity of an existing state whose territory becomes uninhabitable or submerged due to sea-level rise.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The International Law Commission (ILC),<\/strong> in its 2025 report, recognised the legal basis for preserving statehood, drawing on territorial integrity, self-determination, sovereign equality and legal stability.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The 2026 UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise<\/strong> affirms a presumption of continued statehood, indicating that the loss of territory due to sea-level rise does not automatically result in the loss of statehood.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Implications for India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>India welcomed the UN Declaration on Sea Level <\/strong>and supported stable marine zones and continuity of statehood, while maintaining the notion of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In the face of rising sea levels, fixing maritime boundaries preserves India\u2019s territorial seas and those of fragile island states.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It also strengthens India\u2019s historic involvement with the Pacific island countries through the FIPIC (2014) and the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) program (2021).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Large and Vulnerable Coastline: <\/strong>India has a coastline of approximately <strong>11,098 km<\/strong>, along with numerous offshore islands.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Its coastal geography includes highly populated urban and industrial centres, <strong>deltas, estuaries, mangroves, beaches and low-lying islands.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Importance of Island Territories:<\/strong> Lakshadweep in the <strong>Arabian Sea<\/strong> and the <strong>Andaman and Nicobar Islands<\/strong> in the Bay of Bengal extend India&#8217;s maritime presence and influence.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Stability of maritime boundaries therefore has implications for <strong>India&#8217;s EEZ, <\/strong>marine resources and strategic interests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Human Displacement: <\/strong>The Sundarbans illustrates the interaction between sea-level rise, coastal erosion, cyclones, salinity and human displacement.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Islands such as Ghoramara have experienced substantial land loss, while the disappearance of Lohachara demonstrates how erosion and inundation can permanently alter inhabited landscapes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Policy Framework in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019:<\/strong> It regulates development activities along India&#8217;s coastal stretches.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It seeks to balance coastal conservation, livelihood requirements and regulated development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coastal states and Union Territories prepare <strong>Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs)<\/strong> to regulate development according to coastal vulnerability and environmental conditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Survey of India<\/strong> has prepared a <strong>coastal hazard line<\/strong> incorporating factors such as shoreline changes and sea-level rise.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>International Engagement:<\/strong> India launched the <strong>Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS)<\/strong> initiative at <strong>COP26 in Glasgow in 2021.\u00a0<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It seeks to support small island developing states in developing climate-resilient infrastructure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Ahead<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sea-level rise is no longer merely an environmental challenge; it is increasingly a question of human security, territorial integrity, international law and economic resilience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For India, the priority should be to translate this international commitment into risk-sensitive coastal planning, resilient infrastructure, ecosystem restoration, protection of vulnerable communities and a credible framework for climate-induced displacement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-climate\/un-sea-level-declaration-india-coastal-erosion-10900759\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>IE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> The United Nations General Assembly adopted the first-ever UN Declaration on Sea Level Rise, which recognises rising sea levels as an existential threat. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> Status of Global Sea-Level Rise <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Sea-level rise refers to an increase in the average height of the ocean surface relative to a reference point on land or the Earth&#8217;s geocentric reference system.\u00a0 <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Low-lying island nations are particularly vulnerable because much of their land lies only a few metres above sea level, exposing them to coastal erosion, flooding, saltwater intrusion and the loss of habitable land. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/01-10-2026\/sea-level-rise-india\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-86061","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86061","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86061"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86061\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86064,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86061\/revisions\/86064"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86061"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86061"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86061"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}