Is the law in place and ready to protect people who are forcibly displaced by environmental disaster? Sharmista Michaels, barrister at 5 St Andrews Hill, investigates, in a fascinating article in this week’s NLJ
According to a report by the World Bank, climate change could force 216 million people to migrate by 2030. Michaels highlights that there is currently no definition for a climate change ‘refugee’ and no legal recognition for those fleeing climate-related disaster.
The 1951 Convention on Refugees uses a definition based on ‘persecution’. A new legal text may be required.
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