Human Rights Council – 60th Session
General comment on draft resolution L.38/Rev.1
Sea-level rise and its effects on the full and effective enjoyment of human rights
Statement delivered by Iceland

Mr. President,

As citizens of an island State largely dependent on the forces of nature, Icelanders approach the questions surrounding sea-level rise with a strong sense of empathy.

The acute and existential threat of sea-level rise caused by climate change is not the private concern of the island and low-lying coastal States affected.

The consequences of sea-level rise ripple across many sectors and they must be comprehensively addressed in the appropriate international forums. The Human Rights Council should concern itself with the impacts that are felt on the enjoyment of inalienable human rights. For this reason, we welcome the adoption of a resolution on this issue.

While Iceland supports this resolution as it pertains to the enjoyment of human rights, we are disappointed that its content extends outside of the Council’s mandate. We refer here to OP2 of the draft resolution affirming a recognition of a legal situation that is comprehensively governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Constitution of the Ocean. By deciding to issue an interpretation of the law of the sea, which is outside of its competence, the Council may in fact be prejudicing the just and adequate resolution of this issue. Iceland therefore disassociates from OP2 of the resolution but otherwise joins consensus

We will continue to engage on this topic, with interest and empathy, in all competent forums.

I thank you.