Blue Rights, Green Deals: Land, Oceans, and Coastal Property in the Age of Climate Diplomacy

Nice, France — As global leaders convene in Nice for the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), attention will turn to the intersection of land and sea — not only in ecological terms, but in matters of law, ownership, and justice.

COP30 provides a platform for mobilising funding, improved legal frameworks and jurisdictional protections that backstop integrated coastal zone management and land-use planning reforms in countries such as the Maldives.

With rising seas, disappearing shorelines, and growing interest in blue economies, the future of coastal land is suddenly a frontline issue in climate diplomacy.

Shorelines on the Move

Rising sea levels are redrawing coastlines, submerging legal boundaries and destabilizing property markets. From the Maldives to Louisiana, governments are confronting a sobering question: What happens to land rights when the land disappears?

“We’re not just losing land — we’re losing identity, jurisdiction, and resilience,” says Ali Saeed, a coastal policy specialist from the Pacific Islands Forum.

The Politics of Blue Deals

UNOC3 will spotlight a range of new “blue deals” — marine spatial plans, coastal investments, and ocean governance frameworks — many of which have significant land-based implications. Tourism corridors, marine protected areas, and offshore wind zones all impact coastal tenure, access, and livelihoods.Yet in many countries, legal systems remain unprepared to handle overlaps between marine use rights and coastal land titles.

Coastal Property in Crisis

Private property markets in coastal zones are facing increased volatility. In places like Indonesia, Mozambique, and Florida, uncertainty around climate risk is driving both speculation and retreat. Insurance companies are pulling back, and governments are debating the limits of coastal development permits.The real estate consequences of rising seas may soon rival the physical impacts.

Tenure, Sovereignty, and Sea-Level Sovereignty

At the UNOC3, legal scholars will discuss new frameworks for “sea-level sovereignty” — how nations can preserve maritime rights even as coastlines shift. These debates are particularly urgent for small island developing states, whose Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) are at risk if baseline land territory is lost.

The Call for Integrated Coastal Governance

Participants at UNOC3 are calling for integrated governance that links land, sea, and climate systems. Proposals include joint land-ocean cadastres, climate-resilient zoning, and coastal commons protections.“If we treat oceans and coasts as separate systems, we’ll lose both,” warns Marie Leclerc, a marine spatial planning expert with the French Coastal Institute.

Conclusion

The tide is rising — literally and politically. The UN Ocean Conference is no longer just about fisheries and plastics. It’s now about borders, equity, and the survival of entire nations. And at its edge, land remains the battleground — and bridge — between people and the planet.