Environment - International Law / How do we stop islands sinking?

SianRising sea levels, coupled with an increase in severe storms, destroy homes and ruin livelihoods. How can the law help?

Can it help provide a solution?

You'll learn what lawmakers are doing to deal with this threat.

What is behind rising sea levels and increasingly severe and unpredictable storms? Can anyone be blamed? Why those most affected are often least to blame... and how the law can help.

40% of people live within 100km of the coast and one in ten of us live in coastal areas that are less than 10m above sea level.

Sea levels are rising. According to the United Nations, recent rises are the fastest in nearly 3,000 years.

Rising seas and storms wash away the land, flood homes, ruin drinking water supplies and poison our crops.

It's driven by rising temperatures, melting polar ice and even expanding the water that is already there. And scientists agree: humans are the cause.

It's impossible to blame any one person, country or company, but it's clear the impact won't be fair.

Smaller island countries will be hardest hit, but they often create very little pollution.