As climate change deniers gain momentum, island nations across the globe are already experiencing the dire repercussions of a shifting climate. Small islands face inundation from rising sea levels. How international law is reckoning with the ‘sinking islands’ phenomenon and the implications of climate-induced migration?
Department: None
Supervised by: Vicky Kapogianni
This is part of an ongoing research project of ‘Genocide and The Ocean’. The project starts with a workshop in collaboration with the University of Kent which will take place in March 2024 and will end with an edited collection in April 2025. Through its broad and interdisciplinary range of focus, this workshop will seek to bring together an array of scholars who confront the issues involved through numerous lenses be they doctrinal, critical, historical, or socio legal. The project has a threefold aim: first, to investigate the legal framework and international agreements related to climate-induced migration and the rights of affected communities. Second, to assess the effectiveness of existing international legal instruments and policies in protecting the rights and interests of island communities facing displacement and third, to identify potential gaps or areas for improvement in international law to better address the 'sinking islands' phenomenon by exploring case studies and real-world examples of climate migration. In particular, a substantial part of the research involves an in-depth legal analysis of international legal frameworks and documents relevant to sea-related violence/climate change impact etc. This includes an examination of international treaties, conventions, court decisions, and legal doctrines. An analysis of relevant policies and initiatives related to sea-related violence and climate change in small island states is being conducted. This includes examining a number of international legal regimes in relation to each other particularly, through the lenses of international refugee law, international criminal law, international human rights and the law of statehood.
The successful applicant will be expected to carry out the following tasks: 1. Literature Review: conducting literature review on international law, climate change, and the legal implications of climate-induced migration. This is crucial for understanding the existing knowledge in the field. Time spent approximately 30%. 2. Legal Analysis: analysing international legal frameworks, agreements, and policies related to climate-induced migration. This may involve identifying relevant articles, conventions, and treaties that address the rights and protections of communities facing climate-forced displacement. Time spent approximately 30%. 3. Case Studies: the student will be tasked with researching and analysing specific case studies of small island nations affected by climate change. This could involve studying the legal responses, challenges faced, and outcomes in these cases. Time spent approximately 20%. 4. Report Writing: summarising findings and potentially contributing to a workshop and/or academic publications based on the research outcomes. Time spent approximately 20%.
To successfully carry out the tasks outlined for the research project, the student will need a combination of skills, knowledge, and experience, including:1.Understanding of International Law: Knowledge of international law principles, particularly those related to human rights, environmental law, and refugee law. Familiarity with relevant treaties such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Refugee Convention would be beneficial.2.Literature Review and Synthesis: Literature review skills to identify and synthesise existing scholarly works on the intersection of climate change and international law, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the field. 3. Analytical and Critical Thinking: The ability to critically analyse legal texts, case studies, and policy documents, and to apply analytical thinking to understand the implications and gaps in the existing legal frameworks.4. Communication Skills: Effective written and verbal communication skills are crucial for drafting clear and concise reports, summarising findings, and potentially contributing to academic publications. 5.Flexibility and Adaptability: Research projects may evolve, and the student should be adaptable to changes in scope or direction, demonstrating flexibility in response to new findings or challenges. Having a combination of these skills and knowledge will empower the student to navigate the complexities of the research project successfully.
Engaging in the described research project can provide the student with several valuable skills that go beyond the initial set. These include: 1-Advanced Legal Research Skills: The project may require more nuanced and specialised legal research, honing the student's ability to find and interpret complex legal documents. 2-Research Design and Methodology: Contributing to the development of research design and methodology, which may involve defining research questions, and material collection will help the student to both enhance their problem-solving abilities and equip them with hands-on experience in various research methods and techniques, while fostering a holistic understanding of how research projects unfold. 3-Publication and Presentation Skills: Contributing to academic publications (for the editing collection) or presenting findings at the workshop can enhance the student's ability to communicate research effectively to broader audiences. 4-Adaptation to Emerging Issues: The dynamic nature of climate change and law may expose the student to emerging issues, requiring adaptability and a proactive approach to staying informed about current developments.
Reading Law School
10 hours per week
Monday 17 June 2024 - Monday 29 July 2024
The deadline to apply for this project is 5pm on Friday 5th April 2024. To make an application, please go to the following link and complete the application form: https://forms.office.com/e/pMgea0dAHv. To find this project in the application form, please filter ‘school of project applying to’ and select School of Law.