The Need for an International Policy Concerning the Status of Environmentally Displaced Persons

Authors – Calvert Nazareth & Sneha Nagarajan, Students at School of Law, Christ (Deemed to be University)

Best Citation – Calvert Nazareth & Sneha Nagarajan, The Need for an International Policy Concerning the Status of Environmentally Displaced Persons, INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LEGAL RESEARCH JOURNAL, 1 (1) of 2023, Pg. 133-144, ISBN – 978-81-960677-0-0.

ABSTRACT

Changes and disturbances in the environment across the globe have given rise to environmentally displaced persons (EDPs), who migrate from their homes with no other resort. These individuals are not escaping war or an oppressive government but are on a search to seek sanctuary elsewhere, owing to the crisis of climate change. There is an ardent need to protect environmental refugees considering the plight of such individuals. Amid the discourse on global warming and its hazardous impacts, there is minimal dialogue concerning the absence of multilateral protection for displaced individuals. Although the Refugee Convention and the framework for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) revitalise a discussion on the status of refugees, the efforts prove futile due to the lack of a theoretical framework in International Law. As the circumstances are likely to become more drastic, it is crucial to consider the rights of environmental migrants and the duties of the rest of the world. This research contributes to the need for greater clarity and knowledge of the situation of environmental refugees on a global scale. Furthermore, the paper makes recommendations for an international policy to recognize the status and vulnerability of environmentally displaced persons.

KEYWORDS: climate change, displaced persons, environmental refugees, international law