The process of depopulation of small island states is already occurring and is likely to continue over time, with increased voluntary migration and forced relocation becoming increasingly more prevalent.92 While a number of more recent movements and relocations have been linked with climate change, there appear to be usually multiple causes including economic, social, geological and other environmental factors, with the impact of climate change acting as a culmination point.93 Although some may see migration as a positive adaptation to individual circumstances, others raise questions as to the effect of such migratory flows on the future viability of small island states.94 In any case, as long as small island States remain at least partially habitable, internal migration and relocation are likely to overshadow significantly any external movements. Nonetheless, the potential humanitarian consequences of climate change are beginning to receive attention at the international level. Climate-induced displacement has been examined by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on the human rights of internally displaced persons and the Task Force on climate change of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC). In 2009, UNHCR issued a paper entitled ‘Climate change, natural disasters and human displacement: A UNHCR perspective’.95 Supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), UNHCR also submitted a paper entitled ‘Climate Change and Statelessness: An Overview’ to the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Cooperative Action under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).96 The involvement of the international community is important because if the whole population and the State’s government were to be compelled to move abroad, the latter’s powers will be considerably restricted. Lack of funds could prove an important obstacle in practice. Although the governments concerned could potentially continue to claim some income from agreements with other States on fishing rights, the impact of the loss of land territory on the size of the territorial seas and the exclusive economic zone,97 as well as the 92 Many factors may influence migration decisions, including where they relate to the environment, and the time at which particular individuals feel compelled to move is likely to differ considerably. See United Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human Security, ‘Human security, climate change and environmentally induced migration’, 30 June 2008, available online at: http://www.ehs.unu.edu/file/get/4033 (last accessed 25 January 2011). See also Mortreux and Barnett, note 11 above; and Gemenne and Shen, ‘Tuvalu and New Zealand: Case study report’, note 11 above. 93 See for example M. Loughry and J. McAdam, ‘We aren’t refugees’, Inside story, 29 June 2009, available online at: http://inside.org.au/we-arent-refugees/ (last accessed 25 January 2011). 94 Indeed, concerns have been raised that attention and resources that could be devoted to adaptation on small island States could be diverted towards migration options and possibly increase migration outflows from small island States at a time when skills and resources are needed to ensure appropriate and sustainable adaptation measures; see for example Mortreux and Barnett, note 11 above, 105-106; Barnett and Adger, note 4 above; Gemenne and Shen, ‘Tuvalu and New Zealand: Case study report’, note 11 above, which highlights the danger of undermining sustainable use of current resources, 17. The same report also notes that for this reason, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu had requested that the migration quota established for Tuvalu by New Zealand under the Pacific Access Category be reduced from 300 to 75, ibid, 17. 95 UNHCR, ‘Climate change, natural disasters and human displacement: a UNHCR perspective’, 14 August 2009, available online at http://www.unhcr.org/4901e81a4.pdf (last accessed 25 January 2011). 96 UNHCR, ‘Climate Change and Statelessness: An Overview’, 15 May 2009, available online at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4a2d189d3.html (last accessed 25 January 2011). 97 As noted earlier, Art. 47 UNCLOS provides for the determination of baselines which are based on the outermost islands and drying reefs. Should those islands or reefs be submerged, this would presumably affect baselines. Art. 121(3) further provides that ‘[r]ocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own shall have no exclusive economic zone or continental shelf.’ No definition is given of rocks or how 12