Forced Climate Migrants: Rights and Responsibilities1

By 2050, between 250 million and one billion people might be forced to move due to climate change. - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Inju tice anywhere i a threat to ju tice everywhere. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Leaving the place of birth Last week, et another t !hoon, Hai an, s"ammed into si# is"ands of the $hi"i!!ines, affe%ting ten mi""ion indi&idua"s from more than two mi""ion fami"ies. More than si# hundred thousand !eo!"e ha&e 'een e&a%uated and ()* of them are sta ing at +,,,, e&a%uation %entres whi"e the rest are sta ing at somewhere e"se out of these %entres.Last ear, a%%ording to the .nternationa" /is!"a%ement Monitoring Centre and Norwegian Refugee Coun%i", more than 0- mi""ion !eo!"e f"ed their home 'e%ause of disasters whi"e 12* of dis!"a%ement was re"ated to %"imate %hange. 3sia and the 4est and the Centra" 3fri%a 'ore the 'runt. 5ome +.0 mi""ion of them were dis!"a%ed in ri%h %ountries, with the U5 !arti%u"ar" affe%ted. 5ome ,+* of the said dis!"a%ements o%%urred due to f"oods in .ndia and Nigeria.0 Last de%ade, in -))6, $a!ua New 7uine offi%ia"" de%ided to e&a%uate +,))) residents of the Carteret .s"ands fa%ed storm-re"ated erosion and sa"t water intrusion. 8en fami"ies at a time were 'eing mo&ed to the "arger is"and of 9ougain&i""e, +)) ki"ometres awa . 3'out a hundred residents of Lateu, on the is"and of 8egua on :anuatu, were re"o%ated farther in"and, who were fo""owing storm-damage, erosion and sa"t damage to their an%estra" &i""age. 3 %om'ination of me"ting !ermafrost and sea-shore erosion at a rate of u! to 0.0 metres a ear has for%ed the inha'itants of 5hishmaref &i""age of 5ari%hef .s"and (;ust north of the 9ering strait) to re"o%ate their &i""age se&era" ki"ometres to the south. .n -))<, Loha%hara is"and in the Hoogh" ri&er de"ta of .ndia, on%e home to +),))) !eo!"e, and whi%h had first started f"ooding -) ears ago, had fina"" 'een entire" su'merged and "eft thousands of !eo!"e home"ess. .n 3ugust -))6, Hurri%ane Katrina "ashed the 7u"f Coast of the United 5tates and tem!orari" dis!"a%ed o&er a mi""ion !eo!"e. , 3t the same time, in -))6, another stud %ondu%ted ' C=358 8rust, a non-go&ernmenta" organi>ation in 9ang"adesh, read that ri&er %urrents ha&e de&oured ha"f of 9ang"adesh?s 'iggest is"and in ,) ears, "ea&ing ha"f a mi""ion !eo!"e home"ess. 8he stud %onfirmed that from a si>e of <,,)) s@uare ki"ometres in +1<6, 9ho"a .s"and near the mouth of the 9a of 9enga" was on" ha"f of its origina" si>e at that time. .t read, if the erosion %ontinued at the same rate, it wou"d %om!"ete" disa!!ear o&er the ne#t four de%ades.6 .t has 'een estimated that in 9ang"adesh under a se&ere %"imate %hange s%enario !otentia" Afor%ed out-migrationB wi"" 'eC <),))) annua"" due to %oasta" and ri&er erosion, +),))) to +6,))) annua"" due to in%reased sa"init , +,)),))) to +,-),))) on%e in three to fi&e ears due to storm surge and rough sea, and +),))) annua"" due to water "ogging.<
+ 8his write-u! is !re!ared ' Diau" Ho@ue Mukta (>muktaEo#fam.org.uk), Regiona" $o"i% Coordinator of =#fam 3sia. =!inions e#!ressed in the write-u! are those of the author and do not ne%essari" ref"e%t the &iews of =#fam. -

=#fam Fmergen% U!date num'er 0 (++ No&em'er -)+0) 'ased on the 5ituationa" Re!ort G+- of the Nationa" /isaster Risk Redu%tion and Management Coun%i" (N/RRMC) of the $hi"i!!ines as of ++ No&em'er -)+0, <C)) 3M

0 htt!CHHwww.theguardian.%omHg"o'a"-de&e"o!mentH!i%tureH-)+0Hma H-)H%"imate-disasters-dis!"a%e-mi""ionswor"dwideGI , a%%essed ++ No&em'er -)+0. , 9rown, ="i (-))2)C Migration and C"imate ChangeJ !re!ared for .nternationa" =rgani>ation for Migration (.=M), 7ene&a, 5wit>er"and. $age -< and +6

htt!CHHwww.terradai" .%omHnewsH%"imate-)6>>#.htm", a%%essed ++ No&em'er -)+0.

< 3hmed, 3hsan Uddin and Nee"ormi, 5harmind (No&em'er -))2)C C"imate Change, Loss of Li&e"ihoods and Kor%ed /is!"a%ements in 9ang"adeshC 4hither Ka%i"itated .nternationa" Migration. Centre for 7"o'a" Change, 9ang"adesh. $age ,-6

3"'eit !redi%ting the future s%enario regarding dis!"a%ement is %om!"e#, L$rofessor (Norman) M ersB estimate of -)) mi""ion %"imate migrants ' -)6) has 'e%ome the a%%e!ted figureM %ited in res!e%ted !u'"i%ations from the .$CC to the 5tern Re&iew on the F%onomi%s of C"imate Change.N 8he re!ort !re!ared for .nternationa" =rgani>ation for Migrants (.=M) %on%"udes that Lthe sim!"e fa%t is that no'od rea"" knows with an %ertaint what %"imate %hange wi"" mean for human !o!u"ation distri'ution. Current estimates range 'etween -6) mi""ion and + 'i""ion !eo!"e ' -)6).N( Who are the climate migrants? Kor se&era" ears there were de'ates and dis%ussions on what wou"d 'e the term to identif !eo!"e dis!"a%ed ' weather re"ated e#treme and s"ow onset e&entsM %"imate refugee or %"imate migrant. .=M has !ro&ided a definition of en&ironmenta" migrants in -))( whi%h is mu%h 'roader and %ontain the %"imate as!e%ts. .t readsC Fn&ironmenta" migrants are !ersons or grou!s of !ersons, who, for %om!e""ing reasons of sudden or !rogressi&e %hanges in the en&ironment that ad&erse" affe%t their "i&es or "i&ing %onditions, are o'"iged to "ea&e their ha'itua" homes, or %hose to do so, either tem!orari" or !ermanent" , and who mo&e either within their %ountr or a'road. .n the mentioned .=M re!ort ="i 9rown has used Lthe term Afor%ed %"imate migrantB in the know"edge that it is not a uni&ersa"" a%%e!ted term 'ut in the ho!e that it %on&e s a reasona'" a%%urate im!ression of the in%reasing !henomenon of non-&o"untar !o!u"ation dis!"a%ement "ike" as the im!a%ts of %"imate %hange grow and a%%umu"ate.N2 3"'eit s%ientifi%a"" it is diffi%u"t to sa whi%h e#treme and s"ow onset e&ents are %aused ' %"imate %hange, howe&er, %onsidering the in%reased intensit and fre@uen% of su%h e&ents it has 'een %onfirmed ' the s%ientifi% %ommunit that %"imate %hange is a definite %ause %ontri'uting to su%h e&ents. 5%ientists with the Nationa" =%eani% and 3tmos!heri% 3dministration (N=33) said in a new re!ort !u'"ished in the 9u""etin of the 3meri%an Meteoro"ogi%a" 5o%iet (3M5) that man-made %"imate %hange ma ha&e %ontri'uted to ha"f of the e#treme weather e&ents of -)+-.1

The rights 7enera"" , !eo!"e dis!"a%ed due to %"imate %hange sha"" en;o the e@ua" rights with a sense of dignit under the domesti% and internationa" "aws as others do. 5!e%ifi%a"" , as the are dis!"a%ed due to weather re"ated e#treme and s"ow onset e&ents, the must ha&e the s!e%ifi% right to reha'i"itation in%"uding !"anned re"o%ation and migration. 8heir genera" and s!e%ifi% rights shou"d 'e ensured 'efore, during and after the dis!"a%ement, as we"" as during reha'i"itation in%"uding !"anned re"o%ation and migration, where a!!ro!riate, at "o%a", nationa", regiona" and internationa" "e&e"s.

Responsibilities $rimari" the nationa" and "o%a" go&ernments wi"" ha&e to !rote%t the rights of the %"imate migrants. 8o do so, the nationa" go&ernments of the &u"nera'"eHaffe%ted %ountries wi"" ha&e to !"a an a%ti&e ro"e at regiona" and g"o'a" "e&e" for de&ising a!!ro!riate measures to ser&e them through 'i"atera", regiona" and mu"ti"atera" initiati&es. 3dditiona"" , a"" !o""uting %ountries in%"uding the 'usiness se%tors emitting green house gases wi"" ha&e to 'e res!onsi'"e to ser&e the %"imate migrants !ro!ortionate" 'ased on their emission !erforman%es.
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9rown, ="i (-))2)C .'id. $age ++-+.'id. $age +6

htt!CHHameri%a.a";a>eera.%omHarti%"esH-)+0H1H(Hs%ientists-"ink--)+-e#tremeweathertomanmade%"imate%hange.htm", a%%essed ++ No&em'er -)+0.

.t is sur!rising that internationa" %ommunit ser&ing the ArefugeesB are re"u%tant to a%%e!t the idea of A%"imate migrantB a"'eit in man %ases the are not res!onsi'"e for the %auses that are making !eo!"e ArefugeeB and whi"e the are res!onsi'"e to make !eo!"e A%"imate migrantB. .t is an in;usti%e that whi"e some %ountries are res!onsi'"e for a%%e"erating g"o'a" warming indu%ed anthro!ogeni% %"imate %hange, &u"nera'"e %ountries are 'earing the 'urden of dis!"a%ed !eo!"e. Ko""owing the !rin%i!"e of Common 'ut /ifferentiated Res!onsi'i"ities and Res!e%ti&e Ca!a'i"ities (C9/RRC), agreed under United Nations Kramework Con&ention on C"imate Change (UNKCCC), industria"isedHde&e"o!ed and ma;or emitting %ountries must retreat from su%h a dou'"e standard and agree to dis%uss the issue at UNKCCC negotiations and re"e&ant internationa" forums. Kirst of a"", a nationa" go&ernment shou"d de&ise a Nationa" 5trateg to dea" with the issues re"e&ant to %"imate migrants. 5u%h Nationa" 5trateg wi"" guide a%tions at nationa" "e&e" and ' nationa" go&ernment at 'i"atera", regiona" and internationa" "e&e"s. 8his strateg shou"dnBt 'e a !art of nationa" %"imate !o"i% or !"an 'ut an inde!endent one as a%tions wou"d 'e mu"tidimensiona" %o&ering human rights, de&e"o!ment, trade !o"i%ies et%. 4ithin the s%o!e of the nationa" strateg the go&ernment wi"" ha&e to rea"ign the so%ia" !rote%tion !rogramme kee!ing in mind the s!e%ia" needs and !riorities of the %"imate migrants. 7o&ernment must ensure that UNBs A7uiding $rin%i!"es on .nterna" /is!"a%ementB is &a"ued ' a"" im!"ementing agen%ies asso%iated with the mo&ement, resett"ement, reha'i"itation and reintegration of dis!"a%ed !eo!"eH%"imate migrants.+) Moreo&er, a"'eit not suffi%ient enough at a"", it is e#%iting to o'ser&e that sometime 'oth affe%tedH&u"nera'"e and emitting %ountries are introdu%ing "ega" measures at res!e%ti&e nationa" "e&e" to su!!ort the %"imate migrants. Re%ent" 9ang"adesh has !assed the /isaster Management 3%t -)+that in%"udes a definition of %"imate %hange (3rti%"e -) and !ro&isions for the reha'i"itation of affe%ted !eo!"e (3rti%"e -().++ .=M re!ort readsC it has 'een wide" re!orted that New Dea"and has agreed to a%%e!t the inha'itants of 8u&a"u if and when %"imate %hange "ea&es their %ountr inha'ita'"e. .n !ra%ti%e, New Dea"and a%%e!ts on" (6 8u&a"uans ea%h ear through their immigration ser&i%eBs $a%ifi% 3%%ess Categor without an referen%e to en&ironmenta" degradation. 5wedish immigration !o"i% mentions a'out en&ironmenta" migrants, howe&er, it "a%ks %"arit whi"e the !ar"iamentar te#t refers nu%"ear disaster as an e#am!"e of en&ironmenta" disaster and natura" disasters are not mentioned. 8here is an e#am!"e of ad ho% measure as we""C Lin -))0 the U5 immigration ser&i%e e#tended for two more ears the 8em!orar $rote%tion 5tatus it granted to 2),))) Hondurans who had f"ed to the United 5tates after the +112 Hurri%ane Mit%h whi%h de&astated "arge !arts of Centra" 3meri%a.N 5wit>er"and, Canada, Ma"a sia, 3ustra"ia and Furo!ean Union offered some form of soft immigration measures after the 8sunami.+- Migration (C"imate Change) 3mendment 9i"" -))( was ta'"ed 'efore 3ustra"ian 5enate to %reate a new &isa %ategor to ena'"e a forma" me%hanism for the 3ustra"ian go&ernment to re%ogni>e and a%%e!t !eo!"e dis!"a%ed ' %"imate %hange indu%ed en&ironmenta" disastersJ+0 howe&er, it was "a!sed at end of $ar"iament in -))2.+, 8he measures mentioned a'o&e ha&e some Agre nessB at the edges of immigration !o"i%ies of the de&e"o!ed %ountries that %ou"d 'e studied further and e#!"ored for the de&e"o!ment of an future a%tions "inking %"imate migrants and immigration !o"i% .

+) Mukta, Diau" Ho@ue (+ /e%em'er -)++)C Making the mo&e for AC"imate RefugeesB. htt!CHHo!inion.'dnews-,.%omHauthorH>iau"-ho@ue-muktaH, a%%essed ++ No&em'er -)+0. ++

htt!sCHHdo%s.goog"e.%omHfi"eHdH)9-5tD<D6<Re@U/90:"NOPmDP4UFHeditQus!Rdri&eIwe'S!"iR+, a%%essed on ++ No&em'er -)+0. 9rown, ="i (-))2)C .'id. $age 01-,) 9i;o , Mi>anur Rahman (un!u'"ished and undated)C C"imate Change and MigrationC 9ang"adesh $ers!e%ti&e. $age , www.a!h.go&.au, a%%essed ++ No&em'er -)+0.

++0 +,

Climate migrants and UNFCCC Negotiations 8he .ntergo&ernmenta" $ane" on C"imate Change (.$CC) noted in the +11) that the sing"e greatest im!a%t of %"imate %hange might 'e on human migration. 5in%e the esta'"ishment of the UNKCCC, es!e%ia"" sin%e the initiation of a new round of negotiations in -))(, the issue of %"imate %hange re"ated dis!"a%ement has 'een dis%ussed within and outside of the negotiating ta'"e fre@uent" . 8he $rime Minister of 9ang"adesh has 'rought the issue se&era" times at different internationa" forum in%"uding UN 7enera" 3ssem'" . Re%ent" she has reiterated, L5in%e 9ang"adesh is "ike" to ha&e huge human dis!"a%ement due to %"imate %hange, we want esta'"ishment of an internationa" regime under the UN to ta%k"e the situation.N+6 /es!ite di&erse dis%ussions at &arious fronts it is rea"" frustrating to see that none of the Nationa" 3da!tation $rogramme of 3%tions (N3$3s) su!!orted ' the UNKCCC mentions migration or !o!u"ation re"o%ation as a !ossi'"e !o"i% o!tions.
Howe&er, the Can%un 3greement ado!ted at the si#teenth Conferen%e of $arties (C=$+<) of the UNKCCC

he"d in /e%em'er -)+) 'rings an o!!ortunit 'efore &u"nera'"e %ountries to sha!e nationa" and internationa" !rograms under A3da!tation KrameworkB and negotiate su!!ort for the im!"ementation of those !rograms. 3"ong with A3da!tation KrameworkB the 3greement has a"so esta'"ished an A3da!tation CommitteeB and initiated Aa !ro%ess to ena'"e "east de&e"o!ed %ountr $arties to formu"ate and im!"ementB Nationa" 3da!tation $"ans (N3$s). 8he 3da!tation Kramework (su'-!aragra!h K of !aragra!h +,) of the 3greement ensures Lmeasures to enhan%e understanding, %oordination and %oo!eration with regard to %"imate %hange indu%ed dis!"a%ement, migration and !"anned re"o%ation, where a!!ro!riate, at the nationa", regiona" and internationa" "e&e"s.N+< Unfortunate" , sin%e there is no initiati&e at the UNKCCC Ato enhan%e the understanding, %oordination and %oo!erationBM neither the L/Cs nor the 3=5.5 not e&en the 3fri%a 7rou! among the &u"nera'"e %ountries fo""owed u! with this de%ision. :u"nera'"e %ountries in%"uding L/Cs-3=5.5-3fri%a 7rou! need to e#!"ore a"" !ossi'"e wa s in%"uding at 3da!tation Committee to 'ring 'a%k the issue in "ine with the agreed C=$ de%ision. 4hi"e de&e"o!ed, N3$s must %ontain the issues and %on%erns around dis!"a%ement, migration and !"anned re"o%ation. 8here is no dou't that dis!"a%ementHmigration o%%urs 'e%ause of the fai"ure of ada!tation and therefore it fa""s under the s%o!e of "oss and damage as we"". Conse@uent" , C=$+2 he"d in /oha on No&em'er-/e%em'er -)+- de%ided to Lesta'"ish, at its nineteenth session, institutiona" arrangements, su%h as an internationa" me%hanism, in%"uding fun%tions and moda"ities, e"a'orated in a%%ordan%e with the ro"e of the Con&ention as defined..., to address "oss and damage asso%iated with the im!a%ts of %"imate %hange in de&e"o!ing %ountries that are !arti%u"ar" &u"nera'"e to the ad&erse effe%ts of %"imate %hangeN ($aragra!h 1 of /e%ision0HC$+2). 8he same de%ision do%ument a%know"edges Lfurther work to ad&an%e the understanding of and e#!ertise on "oss and damage, whi%h in%"udes, inter a"ia,.... enhan%ing the understanding of.. How im!a%ts of %"imate %hange are affe%ting !atterns of migration, dis!"a%ement and human mo'i"it .N+( .t wou"d 'e a!!ro!riate to 'ring the issue of %"imate migration a!!ro!riate" into the me%hanism to 'e esta'"ished in C=$ +1. Concl sion Kor%ed %"imate migrants are the most &u"nera'"e grou! of !eo!"e amongst a"" fa%ing the 'ruta" fa%e of anthro!ogeni% %"imate %hange as we"" as %"imate negotiations. Resisting the dou'"e standards of the de&e"o!ed and ma;or emitting %ountries the L/Cs-3=5.5-3fri%a 7rou! must work together hard to ser&e this most &u"nera'"e grou! of !eo!"e. 8he de&e"o!ed and ma;or emitting %ountries a"so need to understand what Martin Luther King (Jr.) saidC in;usti%e an where is a threat to ;usti%e e&er whereJ meansM the must not ignore the issues re"e&ant to %"imate migrants, for the sake of their own !ea%e.
!2 "ovember 20!#, $ar aw, %oland
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Mukta, Diau" Ho@ue (+ /e%em'er -)++)C .'id. .'id. KCCCHC$H-)+-H2H3dd.+, htt!CHHunf%%%.intHresour%eHdo%sH-)+-H%o!+2HengH)2a)+.!df, a%%essed +- No&em'er -)+0.