Climate Change Migration, Refugee Protection, and Adaptive Capacity-Building
Author: Robert McLeman
Publisher:
Published: 2015
Total Pages: 18
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOKThis article describes the potential for large-scale population displacements and migration as a result of climate change. Migration is one of many ways by which households exposed to climatic stresses may adapt. Given current trends in climate change, increased rural-to-urban migration in developing regions and increased levels of international migration along pre-existing social networks may be expected. Two international policy instruments that may be relevant for managing climate change-related migration are the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). People displaced by climate change would not qualify for protection as Convention refugees under the former convention, and there is little evidence this situation will change in the near future. The international community is, however, committed under the UNFCCC to assisting vulnerable developing nations build capacity to adapt to the impacts of climate change. This commitment provides an opportunity for developed nations to prevent future climate-related migrations by expanding the range of adaptation alternatives.