Citizenship and Government - Projects

Climate Change and Forced Migration

David Corlett

There is broad agreement that the effects of climate change are being felt already and are likely to get worse. Changes to the earth’s climate as a result of human activities are predicted to lead to the dislocation of hundreds of millions of people, including vast numbers in South Asia as well as those living in low-lying islands in the Pacific. Yet there is no consensus on what ought to be done to respond to those displaced by climate change-related factors. The existing refugee protection regime is not designed to deal with such displacement.

This project, which commenced in late 2007, will investigate the impact of climate change-induced displacement on those most at risk and explore Australia’s response to this displacement.

The project will result in a number of outcomes, including a book on the topic in the ISR’s Briefings series due for publication in October 2008.