"Climate refugees"?

The term "climate refugee" has been in existence since the 1980s but has recently gained prominence due to an increased public awareness of climate change. The Global Governance Project (www.glogov.org) defines climate refugees as “people who have to leave their habitats, immediately or in the near future, because of sudden or gradual alterations in their natural environment related to at least one of three impacts of climate change: sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and drought and water scarcity.”

While those affected by climate change may need, and should receive, international assistance, the term "climate refugee" is misleading. UNHCR has serious reservations about the term as it has no basis in international refugee law and its use could potentially undermine the international legal regime for refugee protection. The term "refugee" is a legal term that comes with specific rights and obligations. It is only able to be applied to those who are residing outside of their country of origin and who have a well-founded fear of persecution. As people escaping from adverse climate effects are not being harassed or persecuted, and are usually within their country of origin, they do not qualify as "refugees" under current international frameworks.

UNHCR is concerned extending the provisions of the Refugee Convention to include persons displaced by climate change would risk a renegotiation of the Convention and, consequently, a lowering of protection standards for refugees. UNHCR does, however, recognise that there are people who will require humanitarian assistance as a result of climate change, but would prefer that measures taken to support these people are not couched in the terminology of refugee protection.

Terms which more accurately describe the situation of so-called "climate refugees" include “person displaced by climate change”, “environmentally induced migrant” or “environmental migrant”. These have gained currency both within the United Nations and the academic world and serve to clarify rather than cloud the issue.

UNHCR's Policy Paper on “Climate Change, Natural Disasters and Human Displacement: A UNHCR Perspective” can be read here.