As the Tide Rises: Addressing the Legal Gap in International Climate Migration Governance

Abstract

As the magnitude and frequency of environmental disasters grow as a result of climate change, environmental displacement has become a serious global crisis in which communities from impoverished and fragile countries are often disproportionately affected. This article aims to understand the climate change-migration nexus and the role that intergovernmental organizations and international legal frameworks have in effective climate migration governance. By combining governing mechanisms from human rights and environmental legal frameworks, the international community can potentially fill the current gap in protocol while addressing the specific needs of affected individuals and communities. This article argues that the best course of action involves the creation of a new international legal framework dedicated entirely to the prevention and protection of individuals displaced by climate change. Early action will prove to be essential for the successful, long-term implementation of organized initiatives.