Doha: The fourth session of the 12th Conference of the Advisory Board on the Law of the Sea (ABLOS), which continues its work in Doha for the second day, discussed the topic of climate change and the ocean. The session was chaired by Professor Clive Schofield, with participants focusing on sea level rise, fisheries provisions in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, enhancing continuous monitoring of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, and a vision for a more sustainable future for the law of the sea.

According to Qatar News Agency, Environmental Researcher at the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Lolwa Al Kuwari emphasized that Qatar prioritizes the protection of its coasts and marine resources in its efforts to address the impacts of climate change and enhance national capacity to adapt to the resulting environmental and economic challenges. She added that rising sea levels pose a global environmental, legal, and geopolitical challenge, impacting the stability of coastal ecosystems and infrastructure, particularly coral reefs, mangroves, and fish habitats.

Al Kuwari explained that climate change has become a legal, developmental, and geopolitical issue, requiring the development of legal frameworks complementary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, taking into account the new environmental reality. She noted Qatar’s monitoring of international developments, including the Paris Climate Agreement and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, and the implementation of the 2030 National Climate Action Plan, which includes projects in the areas of blue carbon and coastal restoration.

For his part, Rapporteur of the International Law Association’s Committee on International Law and Sea Level Rise Professor David Freestone stressed the urgent need for the development of international law rules to protect the sovereignty of states and the rights of their peoples, particularly threatened small island states. He pointed out that reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicate the possibility of sea levels rising by more than one meter by 2100, which necessitates a study of the legal implications for maritime baselines and states’ rights.

In turn, Professor of Law at the University of Aberdeen Dr. Mitchell Lennan pointed out that climate change is altering the oceans through rising temperatures, increasing acidity, and deoxygenation, impacting marine productivity and the lives of coastal communities and highlighting gaps in marine governance systems. He considered that marine fisheries management is no longer possible in isolation from addressing the effects of climate change, and called for the adoption of measures to ensure the sustainability of marine resources through international cooperation and reliance on scientific knowledge.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ander L³pez-Puertas from the University of Cadiz in Spain also presented efforts to monitor Atlantic systems, and explained that the Atlantic current plays a crucial role in regulating global climate, and that any change in its balance could lead to radical climate change. He pointed to the development of advanced simulation models to monitor Atlantic Ocean dynamics and measure water density and temperature to assess potential climate impacts, supporting scientific decision-making and effective policies to adapt to climate change.

The 12th session of ABLOS continues in Doha for the second day with the participation of a select group of international experts and specialists in marine law and the environment. They will discuss ways to develop the global legal framework for oceans and enhance international cooperation in this vital field, contributing to the formulation of more sustainable and just policies for future generations.