Main Debates

Is environmentally induced migration “forced migration”? Does it matter if the environmental change is slow or abrupt, human-induced or the result of dominantly natural processes?

Should environmentally induced migrants qualify as refugees? Under what regime (the existing or a new one, specifically tailored to “environmentally induced refugees”)?

Main Points

Environmentally and climate change induced migration as forced migration

Access to complementary or alternative forms of international protection

UNHCR Documents

UNHCR, ‘Climate change, natural disasters and human displacement: a UNHCR perspective’, Policy Paper, August 14, 2009. Climate change, natural disasters and human displacement: a UNHCR perspective

Readings

Core

R. Black, ‘Environmental refugees: myth or reality? New Issues in Refugee Research’, Working Paper Nº 34 (University of Sussex, March 2001).

J. McAdam, ‘Climate Change, Forced Migration and International Law’, (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012), pp. 52-98.

R. Zetter, ‘Protecting People Displaced by Climate Change: some conceptual challenges’, in: J. McAdam (ed.). Climate Change and Displacement: multidisciplinary perspectives, (Oxford: Hart Publishing, 2010), pp. 131-150.

Extended

C. Cournil, ‘The Protection of “Environmental Refugees” in International Law’, in: É. Piguet, A. Pécoud, P. de Guchteneire (eds), ‘Migration and Climate Change’, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press and UNESCO, 2011), pp. 359-387.

W. Kälin, ‘Conceptualizing Climate-Induced Displacement’, in J. McAdam (ed), Climate Change and Displacement: multidisciplinary perspectives, (Oxford: Hart Publishing, 2010), pp. 81-103.

L. Westra, ‘Environmental Justice & the Rights of Ecological Refugees’, (London: Earthscan, 2009), pp. 3-45.

Editor’s Note

Although environment induced migrants, including climate change induced migrants cannot be regarded as refugees under the 1951 Convention, refugee law developments may apply to this category of migrants. For instance, complementary protection might be available or the IDP Principles may be applied to environment induced migrants in the context of internal displacement.