On the Role of International Governmental Organizations in the Global Response to Adapt to Climate Change-induced Sea-level Rise: Conditioning Factors and Opportunities

Abstract

The article reflects on the role that International Governmental Organizations (IGOs) should play in the global response to climate change-induced sea-level rise (SLR). Although, over the last decade in particular, many IGOs have begun to incorporate the impact of this global threat into their approaches to governance, their response could be greatly enhanced. Following on from a discussion of the impacts of SLR, this work, first, conceptualizes SLR as a common concern of humankind that requires international cooperation; second, identifies the main factors conditioning the current IGO response to SLR (that is, the fragmented nature of the multilateral system, the influence of member states especially vulnerable to the effects of SLR, and the adoption of a “securitized” conception of SLR); and, third, identifies opportunities for IGOs to contribute to improving their role as leaders in this field (that is, reinforcing coordination to ensure full coverage of SLR impacts and avoid inefficiencies, increasing international engagement by enhancing knowledge of the multidimensional implications and impacts of SLR, and acting as global and regional forums to share and explore the effectiveness of different approaches, strategies and practices to tackle SLR impacts).