When Home Exists No Longer: Climate Change and Forced Cross-Border Migration

Is the right to a healthy environment a fundamental human right? Climate change is predicted to
exacerbate negative environmental phenomena, including drought, rising sea levels, and the
prevalence of severe natural disasters. How should international institutions, such as the United
Nations, aid persons displaced due to climate change? First, the thesis traces how the
international community’s definition of refugees has evolved in the past century, in order to
argue how and on what grounds persons displaced due to climate change may be considered
refugees in the future. The UN does do not yet recognize persons displaced due to climate
change as refugees under international law. Second, the thesis explores international
organizations’ responses to previous high magnitude natural disasters, which often generate
comparable population displacements as those predicted by the climate change. Finally, this
thesis investigates three case studies of regions already experiencing the effects of climate
change: Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, and the Sahel region in Africa. These cases provide
insights on how climate change could affect global migration patterns and will serve as guidance
for how the international community should address the challenges of forced displacement due to
climate change. In conclusion, this thesis argues that the international community must design a
legal framework that is flexible and adaptable. Additionally, as an international framework may
take years to implement, nations should form regional agreements to address the specific
challenges of climate change in their respective localities. Forced displacement due to climate
change is a complex and deeply rooted challenge that will need to be addressed through a
combination of scientific and legal innovations.