Climate Change and the Risk of Statelessness: The Situation of Low-lying Island States

This paper will assess the relevance of the principle that statelessness should be prevented in addressing the situation of low-lying island States. The paper begins by examining the elements of statehood under public international law. The paper goes on to specifically examine the situation of low-lying island States, and the risk of statelessness that might result from their submersion. The paper concludes by exploring possible actions to prevent statelessness.