Legal considerations regarding claims for international protection made in the context of the adverse effects of climate change and disasters
1 October 2020 | Publisher: UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) | Document type: Policy/Position Papers |
Ioane Teitiota v. New Zealand (advance unedited version)
9.11 The Committee takes note of the observation of the Immigration and Protection Tribunal that climate change-induced harm can occur through sudden-onset events and slowonset processes. Reports indicate that sudden-onset events are discrete occurrences that have an immediate and obvious impact over a period of hours or days, while slow-onset effects may have a gradual, adverse impact on livelihoods and resources over a period of months to years. Both sudden-onset events (such as intense storms and flooding) and slow-onset processes (such as sea level rise, salinization, and land degradation) can propel cross-border movement of individuals seeking protection from climate change-related harm. 27 The Committee is of the view that without robust national and international efforts, the effects of climate change in receiving states may expose individuals to a violation of their rights under articles 6 or 7 of the Covenant, thereby triggering the non-refoulement obligations of sending states. Furthermore, given that the risk of an entire country becoming submerged under water is such an extreme risk, the conditions of life in such a country may become incompatible with the right to life with dignity before the risk is realized. 7 January 2020 | Judicial Body: UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) | Document type: Case Law | Topic(s): Climate change (including environmental migrants) - Non-refoulement - Right to life | Countries: Kiribati - New Zealand |
Refugee Law in a Time of Climate Change, Disaster and Conflict
January 2020 | Publisher: UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) | Document type: Research, Background and Discussion Papers |
Resolution 2307 (2019) A legal status for "climate refugees"
3 October 2019 | Publisher: Council of Europe: Parliamentary Assembly | Document type: Resolutions/Recommendations/Declarations |
Joint Letter from IOM and UNHCR on the Collaboration Between the two Organizations
25 January 2019 | Publisher: UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) | Document type: Speeches/Statements |
Fiji: Planned Relocation Guidelines - A framework to undertake climate change related relocation (2018)
December 2018 | Publisher: National Legislative Bodies / National Authorities | Document type: National Decrees, Circulars, Regulation, Policy Documents |
In Harm's Way: International Protection in the Context of Nexus Dynamics Between Conflict or Violence and Disaster or Climate Change
December 2018 | Publisher: UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) | Document type: Research, Background and Discussion Papers |
UnSettlement: Urban displacement in the 21st century
November 2018 | Publisher: Norwegian Refugee Council/Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (NRC/IDMC) | Document type: Thematic Reports |
Fiji: Relocation Guideline (Draft) (2015)
14 August 2018 | Publisher: National Legislative Bodies / National Authorities | Document type: National Decrees, Circulars, Regulation, Policy Documents |
Somalia: National Development Plan 2017-2019
9 July 2018 | Publisher: National Legislative Bodies / National Authorities | Document type: National Decrees, Circulars, Regulation, Policy Documents |