海平面上升，已係一種事實存在的趨勢，對人類帶來嚴重影響。儘管精確預測其上升程度存有爭論，但由於其已威脅低地島國與沿海地區之生存，導致海岸線變動，改變海洋生物資源之棲息環境，國際社會之間逐漸關注此等現象以及相關法律問題。其中，涉及海洋法公約者，主要為基線制度與海洋分區外部界限可能因之變動。各國學者對於此等現象，傾向維持相關界限之永久固定性，惟此將挑戰傳統海洋法規範，宜透過修法因應。猶應注意者為，此種現象與規範發展對於當前南海島嶼主權爭端之影響更形顯著，南海島嶼主權聲索國自應有所認識與因應。

For everyone, a prevailing discussion is the impacts of rising sea levels on living environments. Although still arguable is the precise extent of rising sea levels, unequivocal are the international society’s increased concerns about rising sea levels and relevant legal issues. Especially as rising sea levels have not only impacted the very existences of low-lying island states and coastal regions, but have also forever altered the coastlines and habitats of marine living resources. With respect to the UN Law of the Sea Convention, for these affected areas, most impacted have been the baseline regime and maritime zones’ outer limits. In response by scholars, preservation, namely permanent stability, has been proposed for both the baselines and maritime zones’ outer limits. Even so, such proposal would challenge the traditional concepts of the law of the sea. Thus, required is an amendment of the rules. Also, regarding the disputes over the islands’ sovereignties in the South China Sea, both the rising sea levels’ impacts and developed norms tend to be more significant. Hence, claimants should be cognizant of how to respond to it.