UN 'can and should' recognize climate migrants

In her article for environmentalresearchweb, Liz Kalaugher gives voice to a Canadian team willing to bring the climate change migration issue forward following the deterioration of living conditions for many people around the world. "To date, no international body has accepted responsibility for addressing the issue of climate migration, despite its importance as an emerging policy issue," said Chris Gibb of the University of Montreal.

Together with James Ford of McGill University, Gibb examined in his paper the complexity of defining climate migrants, assessed the potential for the UNFCCC to officially recognize such migrants and proposed a guiding framework showing how the UNFCCC could achieve recognition. "We argue that the UNFCCC can and should recognize climate migrants," said Gibb.