Міжнародно-правовий захист підводної культурної спадщини у світі загроз від змін клімату

The article analyzes international legal instruments adopted in response to climate change, marine pollution and the preservation of underwater cultural heritage. It emphasizes the necessity of adapting conventional norms to contemporary issues arising from climate change in the world’s oceans, which, in turn, negatively impact humanity’s underwater cultural heritage (UCH). Oceanic changes are a direct consequence of the climate crisis. As global temperatures rise, ice melts, leading to sea level rise. Higher global temperatures will dry out some submerged heritage sites, while rising sea levels will flood many coastal areas, creating new underwater cultural heritage sites. The disappearance of ice has already led to the discovery of underwater sites that had been preserved for centuries beneath the polar ice caps, with numerous documented examples. Other aspects of the climate crisis include the overall increase in seawater temperature, changes in global currents, ocean acidification, and shifts in salinity. The author suggests that the cumulative impact of these changes will have a detrimental effect on UCH, as they accelerate the degradation of heritage materials. The study concludes that rising sea levels and the resulting erosion of natural environments may also threaten intangible UCH, particularly the belief systems and cosmologies of Indigenous Pacific communities. The author argues that underwater cultural heritage is a valuable tool for achieving Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, various programs and projects are being implemented to protect and preserve it, utilizing innovative technologies that aid in conserving UCH in situ. An analysis of various «marine» conventions, international climate change agreements, and the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (2001) reveals that rising sea levels and dangerous chemical changes in the ocean were not initially considered threats to UCH. Consequently, the study justifies the need for new regulations to safeguard UCH, specifically addressing the dangers posed by rising sea levels and ocean acidification. For long-term solutions in preserving underwater heritage, it is essential to integrate climate crisis concerns into global strategies.