Does the United States Need a Climate Refugee Policy?

Key Question Being Explored in This Insight:

How should nations adapt their immigration policies to address the growing issue of climate-induced displacement, given current legal limitations on refugee status?

View the page of: Maria Cristina Garcia

Institution: Cornell University

Explore more insights in:

Arts and Humanities History

Media Literacy Toolkit

Faculti's Media Literacy Toolkit helps viewers critically engage with academic insights by analyzing the research context, identifying perspectives, and encouraging thoughtful evaluation.

Critical Questions to Consider ▼

What assumptions does the research make?
Are there alternative perspectives not explored?
What are the limitations of the research method?

Bias and Perspective Awareness ▼

This research comes from Cornell University . Reflect on how the institution's academic focus and research partnerships may shape the questions being explored.

How should nations adapt their immigration policies to address the growing issue of climate-induced displacement, given current legal limitations on refugee status?

Image courtesy of interviewee. December 9, 2024

Log-in or Sign-up to Faculti
Currently viewing this subject insight as a guest. You have insight(s) remaining for this month. Login to view 8000+ figures on the platform.

Generating Workspace...

Export as PDF

This video discusses the current definition of a refugee, which aligns with the UN definition and does not account for individuals displaced by environmental disasters or climate change. It emphasizes the need to reconsider this definition or create a complementary pathway for those permanently displaced by climate-related events, especially as climate change accelerates the frequency and severity of such disasters.

The speaker notes that existing legal frameworks like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) require individuals to already be in the U.S., which limits access for new arrivals affected by climate events. Humanitarian parole is temporary and requires Congressional action for permanent status, highlighting a lack of comprehensive support for climate refugees.

The international community is urged to take a multifaceted approach, including providing humanitarian assistance, building community resilience, and managing migration collaboratively. The argument points out the disproportionate impact of climate change on poorer nations, which often bear the brunt of the crisis despite being less responsible for its causes. As events unfold, it's suggested that developed nations have a particular obligation to assist these vulnerable countries.

Additionally, the text calls for policy changes to address the root causes of climate vulnerability, the need for political will in creating legal pathways for climate migrants, and broader discussions around immigration reform. It concludes that while wealthier nations are also affected by climate change, they have a unique responsibility to help less developed nations adapt and thrive amidst the crisis.

Language:

Export as PDF

Export as PDF
Here are five key points from the video regarding the definition and implications of climate refugees and the broader convideo of migration due to climate change:

1. **Narrow Definition of Refugee**: The current UN definition of a refugee does not include individuals displaced due to climate change or environmental disasters. A refugee is defined primarily by persecution based on race, religion, nationality, social group, or political opinion.

2. **Challenges of Environmental Displacement**: Historically, environmental disasters were viewed as temporary setbacks, with affected communities expected to recover. However, in the face of accelerated climate change, recovery is becoming increasingly difficult, leading to the need for a reevaluation of what constitutes a refugee status.

3. **Existing Legal Frameworks Insufficient**: Current U.S. immigration mechanisms, such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and humanitarian parole, only offer temporary relief to individuals already in the country, highlighting the lack of pathways for individuals displaced by environmental factors to seek refuge before arriving in the U.S.

4. **International Cooperation Needed**: Nations must collaborate to provide humanitarian assistance and accommodate displaced populations, especially since poorer nations disproportionately bear the brunt of climate crises. There is a call for wealthier nations to assist in creating resilience in developing countries, addressing both adaptation strategies and structural injustices that have led to disproportionate vulnerability.

5. **Political Resistance and Reform**: Although there are calls for an expanded definition of refugees to include those displaced by climate change, there is significant political resistance, particularly in the U.S. The current political climate has stalled immigration reform efforts, and there is skepticism about recognizing human-induced climate change as a factor driving migration. Previous initiatives aimed at creating pathways for climate refugees have not gained traction in Congress.

Export as PDF
Here are some key quotes from the video you , focusing on the main themes regarding refugees, climate change, and international responsibility:

1. **Definition of Refugee**:
"Our current definition... defines a refugee as a person who has experienced persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion."

2. **Environmental Disasters**:
"Nowhere in that definition do you see any reference to environmental disaster or climate change."

3. **Need for Amendment**:
"In an era of accelerated climate change, we need to consider either amending our definition of refugee who have been permanently displaced from their homes."

4. **Temporary Protection Status**:
"The only track that we currently have on the books that allows people to have temporary protection is a status that is known as temporary protected status."

5. **Congressional Action**:
"In order to remain permanently in the United States, Congress would have to pass what is known as an adjustment act."

6. **Internal Displacement**:
"Right now, 80% of the world's displaced populations on account of climate are internally displaced."

7. **International Community's Role**:
"The international community needs to proceed on multiple tracks at once... to help communities adapt... so that they can exercise a basic human right to stay home."

8. **Burden Sharing**:
"The burden of accommodating displaced populations shouldn't just... It should be shared by the international community as a whole."

9. **Obligation of Developed Nations**:
"Wealthier nations who have a very large carbon footprint have a particular obligation to helping lesser developed nations adapt."

10. **Debt and Resources**:
"Many of them are so highly indebted that... they don't have the resources to implement those climate mitigation policies."

11. **Political Challenges**:
"You have one group of politicians who... call climate change a hoax."

12. **Resistance to Immigration Reform**:
"There was a bill that was introduced in Congress, but it's been held hostage for political reasons."

13. **Historical Convideo of Refugee Definitions**:
"As early as 1969, for example, the African Union developed a much more expansive definition of refugee status."

14. **Displacement in the U.S.**:
"In the United States, there are 170 coastal communities that have reached the threshold for chronic inundation."

These quotes encapsulate the key points about the current refugee definition in relation to climate change, the inadequacy of existing protections, the responsibility of the international community, and the ongoing political and historical challenges surrounding these issues.

X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:90000

1
00:00:00.145 --> 00:00:01.245
Our current definition,

2
00:00:01.245 --> 00:00:03.645
which is based on the UN definition of refugee,

3
00:00:03.795 --> 00:00:07.685
defines a refugee as a person who has been, who,

4
00:00:07.985 --> 00:00:11.165
has experienced persecution on account of race, religion,

5
00:00:11.525 --> 00:00:14.245
nationality, membership in a particular social group

6
00:00:14.505 --> 00:00:15.525
or political opinion.

7
00:00:15.705 --> 00:00:18.965
And so, nowhere in that definition do you see any reference

8
00:00:19.145 --> 00:00:22.125
to environmental disaster or climate change.

9
00:00:22.345 --> 00:00:26.245
So, so yes, we definitely need to, in an era

10
00:00:26.245 --> 00:00:28.245
of accelerated climate change, we need

11
00:00:28.245 --> 00:00:31.085
to consider either amending our definition of refugee

12
00:00:31.225 --> 00:00:34.005
or creating a complimentary track for admission for those

13
00:00:34.345 --> 00:00:36.365
who have been permanently displaced from their homes.

14
00:00:36.965 --> 00:00:38.085
I think for a long time,

15
00:00:38.085 --> 00:00:40.685
environmental disaster was considered as a,

16
00:00:40.685 --> 00:00:43.925
as a one-time temporary event, you know, that,

17
00:00:44.035 --> 00:00:46.965
communities were affected, say by an earthquake

18
00:00:47.065 --> 00:00:50.365
or by drought, or by a hurricane, but then they recovered.

19
00:00:50.545 --> 00:00:53.205
Uh, but in an era of accelerated climate change,

20
00:00:54.165 --> 00:00:57.165
recovery will become increasingly difficult.

21
00:00:57.305 --> 00:01:00.325
Um, especially if, if you're experiencing back

22
00:01:00.325 --> 00:01:03.085
to back disasters at a, you know, at a rapid clip,

23
00:01:03.505 --> 00:01:06.125
as many islands in the Caribbean are experiencing,

24
00:01:06.225 --> 00:01:09.725
for example, at present, there's, there's just no,

25
00:01:09.825 --> 00:01:11.005
no track for admission.

26
00:01:11.585 --> 00:01:15.605
Um, the only track that we currently have on the books,

27
00:01:15.795 --> 00:01:19.125
that allows people to have temporary protection is a status

28
00:01:19.275 --> 00:01:22.085
that is known as temporary protected status.

29
00:01:22.305 --> 00:01:25.325
It was created by the 1990 Immigration

30
00:01:25.505 --> 00:01:27.205
Act, but there's a catch.

31
00:01:27.225 --> 00:01:29.845
In order to receive TPS, you already have

32
00:01:29.845 --> 00:01:32.365
to be in the United States, either as a student

33
00:01:32.585 --> 00:01:35.165
or as a merchant, as a tourist, even

34
00:01:35.225 --> 00:01:36.885
as an undocumented worker.

35
00:01:37.545 --> 00:01:41.765
Um, you could, under some qualifying conditions,

36
00:01:41.865 --> 00:01:44.005
be allowed to live and work in the United States

37
00:01:44.265 --> 00:01:45.765
for up to 18 months.

38
00:01:46.025 --> 00:01:48.365
And, and sometimes that status is renewable,

39
00:01:49.145 --> 00:01:50.965
but again, as I said, you have

40
00:01:50.965 --> 00:01:52.685
to already be in the United States.

41
00:01:52.785 --> 00:01:55.645
You can't migrate to the United States in order

42
00:01:55.665 --> 00:01:56.845
to receive TPS.

43
00:01:56.895 --> 00:01:59.965
Those are tracks that could be available to in the future.

44
00:02:00.385 --> 00:02:02.725
Um, if the United States does not want

45
00:02:02.725 --> 00:02:06.045
to amend its refugee law,

46
00:02:06.105 --> 00:02:09.325
and does not want to create a, a complimentary track

47
00:02:09.345 --> 00:02:12.045
for admission specifically for climate refugees,

48
00:02:12.785 --> 00:02:15.325
it does have other legal instruments available at,

49
00:02:15.345 --> 00:02:18.365
at its disposal, and one of them is humanitarian parole.

50
00:02:18.985 --> 00:02:21.245
But again, humanitarian parole is permanent,

51
00:02:21.245 --> 00:02:22.285
is not permanent.

52
00:02:22.315 --> 00:02:24.885
It's temporary. And in order

53
00:02:24.885 --> 00:02:27.045
to remain permanently in the United States,

54
00:02:27.525 --> 00:02:29.605
Congress would have to pass what is known

55
00:02:29.605 --> 00:02:34.205
as an adjustment act in order to, allow, those, with

56
00:02:34.205 --> 00:02:36.765
that temporary status to remain permanently in the us.

57
00:02:37.125 --> 00:02:39.445
Congress has done something like that in the past, not

58
00:02:39.445 --> 00:02:40.645
for climate refugees,

59
00:02:40.745 --> 00:02:44.525
but for, for people who were experiencing,

60
00:02:44.675 --> 00:02:45.965
political upheaval.

61
00:02:46.465 --> 00:02:50.125
So for example, during the Hungarian crisis of 56,

62
00:02:50.185 --> 00:02:53.725
during the Cuban Revolution, many,

63
00:02:53.725 --> 00:02:55.685
people from those two countries were admitted

64
00:02:55.745 --> 00:02:58.325
as humanitarian parolees, and then Congress passed

65
00:02:58.615 --> 00:03:00.885
Adjustment acts to normalize their status.

66
00:03:01.465 --> 00:03:05.965
But we've never done that for somebody who has been,

67
00:03:06.475 --> 00:03:09.725
displaced, be for environmental reasons, historically,

68
00:03:09.725 --> 00:03:12.525
we have considered environmental disruption to be temporary.

69
00:03:12.825 --> 00:03:15.685
And people adapt. They either move internally within their

70
00:03:15.685 --> 00:03:20.005
own countries, or they adapt and, and they rebuild and,

71
00:03:20.145 --> 00:03:22.205
and they recreate their communities.

72
00:03:22.305 --> 00:03:25.445
And, and that's been the pattern in the past.

73
00:03:26.185 --> 00:03:29.325
And you know, right now, 80% of the world's,

74
00:03:29.555 --> 00:03:31.205
displaced populations on account

75
00:03:31.205 --> 00:03:33.045
of climate are internally displaced.

76
00:03:33.065 --> 00:03:36.845
But if the projections hold, we can expe expect

77
00:03:36.845 --> 00:03:40.325
to see more cross border migration as, more

78
00:03:40.325 --> 00:03:42.525
and more communities are, are disrupted.

79
00:03:42.645 --> 00:03:44.645
I mean, right now it's a small island states

80
00:03:45.155 --> 00:03:48.965
that are the most obvious examples of, of communities

81
00:03:48.965 --> 00:03:50.165
that are at the threat of,

82
00:03:50.185 --> 00:03:52.285
of being permanently displaced from their homes

83
00:03:52.285 --> 00:03:53.805
because of climate disruptions.

84
00:03:54.265 --> 00:03:56.165
The international community needs

85
00:03:56.265 --> 00:03:58.365
to proceed on multiple tracks at once.

86
00:03:59.105 --> 00:04:02.645
So we need to, as an international community, continue

87
00:04:02.645 --> 00:04:04.365
to provide humanitarian assistance.

88
00:04:04.605 --> 00:04:06.125
I mean, that's always been the response,

89
00:04:06.345 --> 00:04:09.405
and that needs to be, to continue to be a response.

90
00:04:10.105 --> 00:04:11.565
We also need to work together

91
00:04:11.585 --> 00:04:14.845
to help communities be resilient to the re to,

92
00:04:15.145 --> 00:04:16.765
to the realities of climate change.

93
00:04:17.225 --> 00:04:19.965
We need to help communities adapt in their infrastructure

94
00:04:20.025 --> 00:04:22.525
and their housing and their agriculture so

95
00:04:22.525 --> 00:04:25.445
that they can exercise a basic human right to stay home.

96
00:04:26.185 --> 00:04:29.685
Um, but when, staying home is not possible,

97
00:04:29.835 --> 00:04:33.205
then the nations need to work together to help

98
00:04:33.425 --> 00:04:36.045
to manage migration so that there's burden sharing.

99
00:04:36.545 --> 00:04:40.085
Um, you know, the, the, the burden of accommodating,

100
00:04:40.085 --> 00:04:42.005
displaced populations shouldn't just

101
00:04:42.005 --> 00:04:43.245
fall on just one nation.

102
00:04:43.465 --> 00:04:47.365
It should be shared, by the international community

103
00:04:47.365 --> 00:04:50.685
as a whole, because we've all played a role in creating the

104
00:04:50.685 --> 00:04:53.365
climate crisis, especially the more developed nations,

105
00:04:53.365 --> 00:04:54.365
the wealthier nations

106
00:04:54.905 --> 00:04:56.925
who have a very large carbon footprint.

107
00:04:57.155 --> 00:04:59.805
They have a particular obligation to helping,

108
00:05:00.025 --> 00:05:02.245
lesser developed nations, adapt.

109
00:05:02.945 --> 00:05:05.485
Um, we also need to address the behaviors

110
00:05:05.485 --> 00:05:07.805
that have accelerated climate change in the first place.

111
00:05:08.385 --> 00:05:11.485
You know, climate change is a fast moving train,

112
00:05:11.585 --> 00:05:14.325
and it's gonna take a while to slow that fast moving train.

113
00:05:14.625 --> 00:05:17.365
So we need to address those behaviors,

114
00:05:17.835 --> 00:05:20.205
that have accelerated climate change in the first place.

115
00:05:20.305 --> 00:05:21.805
And, and then also, you know,

116
00:05:21.945 --> 00:05:24.445
and this is a much harder conversation, we also need to

117
00:05:25.235 --> 00:05:29.405
examine those policies that have impoverished and,

118
00:05:29.665 --> 00:05:31.045
and indebted nations,

119
00:05:31.105 --> 00:05:34.085
and left some on the front lines of a climate crisis

120
00:05:34.195 --> 00:05:35.445
that they did not create.

121
00:05:35.705 --> 00:05:38.325
So right now it's the poorer nations of the world

122
00:05:38.325 --> 00:05:40.365
that are on the front lines of the climate crisis.

123
00:05:40.665 --> 00:05:44.565
And, and many of them are so highly indebted that,

124
00:05:44.905 --> 00:05:46.845
any income that they generate goes

125
00:05:46.845 --> 00:05:48.165
to just servicing the debt,

126
00:05:48.225 --> 00:05:49.685
and they don't have the resources

127
00:05:50.025 --> 00:05:53.085
to implement those climate mitigation, policies

128
00:05:53.085 --> 00:05:54.925
that would help their, their populations be

129
00:05:55.165 --> 00:05:56.765
resilient. So I think, you

130
00:05:56.765 --> 00:05:59.685
Know, that's a, a much harder conversation that we need

131
00:05:59.685 --> 00:06:01.205
to have about, you know,

132
00:06:01.205 --> 00:06:04.085
what policies have created this crisis in the first place,

133
00:06:04.115 --> 00:06:07.205
members of one party who are very hostile

134
00:06:07.385 --> 00:06:09.125
to even recognizing that cl

135
00:06:09.125 --> 00:06:11.485
that human behavior has accelerated climate change.

136
00:06:11.685 --> 00:06:14.365
I mean, it's very common to hear among some,

137
00:06:14.675 --> 00:06:18.005
some politicians that yes, the climate has always changed

138
00:06:18.305 --> 00:06:20.245
and, and, you know, what's the big deal?

139
00:06:20.465 --> 00:06:23.125
But, you know, at what other time in human history have we

140
00:06:23.125 --> 00:06:25.765
had 8 billion people on the planet all contributing

141
00:06:25.765 --> 00:06:28.045
to behaviors that are accelerating changes

142
00:06:28.115 --> 00:06:30.405
that in the deep past occurred over millennia

143
00:06:30.405 --> 00:06:31.765
rather than decades, right?

144
00:06:31.985 --> 00:06:35.405
Um, so, so you have one group of politicians who,

145
00:06:35.545 --> 00:06:38.325
who just call the, climate change a hoax.

146
00:06:38.545 --> 00:06:40.925
And, and so when you have that kind of perspective,

147
00:06:41.615 --> 00:06:45.165
there is a resistance, to even considering

148
00:06:45.845 --> 00:06:49.605
creating a complimentary track for admission for, for,

149
00:06:49.675 --> 00:06:51.285
climate displaced persons.

150
00:06:51.285 --> 00:06:53.405
Right? But you know, also,

151
00:06:53.575 --> 00:06:56.085
there are many politicians right now who,

152
00:06:56.865 --> 00:06:59.525
who have been sitting on immigration reform as a whole.

153
00:06:59.925 --> 00:07:02.205
I mean, we're all in recognition here in,

154
00:07:02.705 --> 00:07:04.445
in the United States that we need

155
00:07:04.445 --> 00:07:05.925
to have immigration reform.

156
00:07:05.955 --> 00:07:06.965
It's long overdue.

157
00:07:07.385 --> 00:07:09.325
We haven't passed, a major piece

158
00:07:09.325 --> 00:07:11.205
of immigration reform in decades.

159
00:07:11.505 --> 00:07:12.925
And so it's time for one.

160
00:07:13.145 --> 00:07:15.645
And there was a bill that was introduced in Congress,

161
00:07:15.665 --> 00:07:18.525
but it's been held hostage for political reasons, right?

162
00:07:18.785 --> 00:07:21.765
Um, because, immigration and,

163
00:07:22.025 --> 00:07:25.045
and mi, the migration crisis along the US Mexico border in

164
00:07:25.045 --> 00:07:28.205
particular, has become one of the big rallying points

165
00:07:28.465 --> 00:07:29.765
for, for people on the right.

166
00:07:29.895 --> 00:07:33.245
There are many people, who have been discussing this

167
00:07:33.265 --> 00:07:34.285
for quite some time.

168
00:07:35.025 --> 00:07:39.845
So, for example, the U-N-H-C-R, the IOM, a

169
00:07:40.365 --> 00:07:43.285
a number of international non-governmental organizations

170
00:07:43.395 --> 00:07:47.165
have been, leading the cry or, or, or,

171
00:07:47.265 --> 00:07:50.165
or re reminding us

172
00:07:50.165 --> 00:07:52.005
that this is a collective responsibility

173
00:07:52.065 --> 00:07:54.045
and that we, we need to work together.

174
00:07:54.825 --> 00:07:57.925
Um, but, but even, you know, long

175
00:07:57.925 --> 00:08:02.725
before, the U-N-H-C-R took up,

176
00:08:02.825 --> 00:08:06.365
the issue of climate change, you had, other kind

177
00:08:06.525 --> 00:08:10.485
of regional, bodies, addressing,

178
00:08:11.345 --> 00:08:13.205
other forms of displacement.

179
00:08:13.275 --> 00:08:15.845
They, they recognized that our definition

180
00:08:15.845 --> 00:08:17.725
of refugee was much too narrow

181
00:08:17.905 --> 00:08:21.005
and didn't, take into account the multiple forms

182
00:08:21.025 --> 00:08:24.765
of vulnerability that require people to move internally and,

183
00:08:24.945 --> 00:08:26.125
and across borders.

184
00:08:26.185 --> 00:08:30.245
So, as early as 1969, for example, the African Union,

185
00:08:30.825 --> 00:08:33.485
developed a much more expansive definition

186
00:08:33.485 --> 00:08:36.725
of refugee status that took into account,

187
00:08:36.865 --> 00:08:39.805
how a generalized climate of disruption or, or,

188
00:08:39.825 --> 00:08:41.685
or violence can,

189
00:08:41.985 --> 00:08:45.125
or events seriously disturbing the public order can,

190
00:08:45.345 --> 00:08:46.805
can force people to migrate.

191
00:08:47.125 --> 00:08:51.285
Likewise, in 1984, the Garena declaration in response

192
00:08:51.345 --> 00:08:54.805
to the upheaval in Central America, also recognized

193
00:08:54.805 --> 00:08:55.805
That there were events

194
00:08:55.915 --> 00:08:59.005
that seriously disturbed the public order that,

195
00:08:59.345 --> 00:09:01.165
so they attempted to create a much more

196
00:09:01.165 --> 00:09:02.645
expansive definition of refugee.

197
00:09:03.465 --> 00:09:08.085
And then now, in, in, since then as the U-N-H-C-R

198
00:09:08.085 --> 00:09:10.925
and the IOM and other international organizations have,

199
00:09:11.425 --> 00:09:14.605
you know, rung, rung the bell, you know, tried to,

200
00:09:14.785 --> 00:09:17.845
to put climate change on the agenda,

201
00:09:17.845 --> 00:09:19.005
they have also called

202
00:09:19.185 --> 00:09:21.645
for creating complimentary tracks for admission.

203
00:09:22.085 --> 00:09:23.485
I think there's some resistance

204
00:09:23.545 --> 00:09:27.965
to amending the refugee definition as it exists for fear

205
00:09:27.965 --> 00:09:30.485
that it will weaken protections,

206
00:09:30.505 --> 00:09:31.965
for the politically displaced.

207
00:09:32.225 --> 00:09:34.845
And so I think most international bodies or,

208
00:09:34.865 --> 00:09:36.325
or agencies are now calling

209
00:09:36.705 --> 00:09:38.525
for a complementary track for admission.

210
00:09:39.185 --> 00:09:42.725
Um, but, but there's, there's resistance.

211
00:09:42.805 --> 00:09:45.845
I mean, here in the United States, the first attempt

212
00:09:46.065 --> 00:09:48.205
to create that complementary track

213
00:09:48.345 --> 00:09:50.885
for admission occurred in 2019.

214
00:09:51.585 --> 00:09:55.205
Um, when, representative Ni Velasquez

215
00:09:55.205 --> 00:09:58.485
and Senator Ed Markey introduced the first climate migration

216
00:09:58.485 --> 00:10:02.045
bills of the 21st century, those bills died in committee.

217
00:10:02.865 --> 00:10:05.765
And so since then, you know, we haven't, received,

218
00:10:06.065 --> 00:10:07.765
you know, Congress has refused to act.

219
00:10:08.305 --> 00:10:10.325
The Biden administration,

220
00:10:10.435 --> 00:10:13.525
instead has focused on addressing the root causes

221
00:10:13.525 --> 00:10:16.925
of migration and trying to develop, resiliency.

222
00:10:17.225 --> 00:10:20.365
And so that led, for example, to the,

223
00:10:20.625 --> 00:10:23.965
Los Angeles declaration where 22 nations came together

224
00:10:24.465 --> 00:10:27.725
and agreed, that they would try to,

225
00:10:27.725 --> 00:10:30.325
create opportunities for people to stay home

226
00:10:30.785 --> 00:10:33.925
to become resilient, to, you know,

227
00:10:34.245 --> 00:10:36.205
multiple conditions including climate change

228
00:10:36.205 --> 00:10:37.365
that are displacing them,

229
00:10:37.625 --> 00:10:39.565
and then also they pledge to work together

230
00:10:39.665 --> 00:10:40.805
to manage migration.

231
00:10:41.015 --> 00:10:44.605
We're also, at least, here in the United States,

232
00:10:44.665 --> 00:10:48.085
the Biden administration has, secured,

233
00:10:48.085 --> 00:10:50.685
commitments from industry, from private industry,

234
00:10:50.685 --> 00:10:54.685
for example, to, to create job opportunities

235
00:10:55.345 --> 00:10:59.445
to assist with infrastructure development and, and the like.

236
00:10:59.865 --> 00:11:02.245
Um, so they've been working on multiple fronts to,

237
00:11:02.665 --> 00:11:04.005
and not just provide aid,

238
00:11:04.025 --> 00:11:07.445
but also to provide the technologies to provide the,

239
00:11:07.545 --> 00:11:09.845
the scientific knowledge, and,

240
00:11:09.865 --> 00:11:13.485
and also to create the jobs, that will convince people

241
00:11:13.705 --> 00:11:16.645
to that, that there are opportunities in their homeland.

242
00:11:16.665 --> 00:11:19.445
So, and so they'll, they'll, they'll be more likely to,

243
00:11:19.585 --> 00:11:21.605
exercise that right to stay home.

244
00:11:21.965 --> 00:11:24.125
I think we're all in agreement that,

245
00:11:24.635 --> 00:11:26.845
that climate change is a fast moving train

246
00:11:26.905 --> 00:11:30.445
and we are nowhere, meeting the targets

247
00:11:30.445 --> 00:11:31.485
of the Paris Agreement.

248
00:11:31.945 --> 00:11:33.565
And that is indeed worrisome.

249
00:11:33.705 --> 00:11:36.245
And, and I do think that the wealthier nations

250
00:11:36.875 --> 00:11:38.405
have a particular obligation

251
00:11:38.405 --> 00:11:39.845
to the lesser developed nations.

252
00:11:39.965 --> 00:11:42.245
I mean, the, you know, it,

253
00:11:42.315 --> 00:11:44.245
it's the lesser developed nations

254
00:11:44.245 --> 00:11:48.085
that are currently on the front lines, of,

255
00:11:48.185 --> 00:11:50.165
of the climate crisis, right?

256
00:11:50.265 --> 00:11:52.885
And many of them are former colonies whose wealth

257
00:11:53.065 --> 00:11:56.485
Was extracted for the benefit of the wealthier nations.

258
00:11:57.025 --> 00:11:59.365
Um, as I said, they're highly indebted.

259
00:11:59.545 --> 00:12:02.525
Um, they're, many of them, are experiencing

260
00:12:03.155 --> 00:12:04.965
intense levels of criminal violence,

261
00:12:05.345 --> 00:12:06.645
political violence.

262
00:12:06.945 --> 00:12:11.125
And so, so I think we have a particular obligation to,

263
00:12:11.385 --> 00:12:13.205
to these lesser developed nations.

264
00:12:13.625 --> 00:12:15.885
But, but every nation is experiencing,

265
00:12:16.185 --> 00:12:17.325
you know, the climate crisis.

266
00:12:17.535 --> 00:12:20.085
We're not immune from from it here in the United States.

267
00:12:20.285 --> 00:12:23.165
I mean, we just experienced two back to back hurricanes,

268
00:12:23.455 --> 00:12:24.805
hurricanes, Helene and,

269
00:12:24.825 --> 00:12:26.645
and Milton, which were devastating, right?

270
00:12:26.785 --> 00:12:29.485
And, you know, already we,

271
00:12:29.945 --> 00:12:32.365
and within the United States have internal migration

272
00:12:32.365 --> 00:12:34.685
of our own, where people from California, for example,

273
00:12:35.075 --> 00:12:38.205
long affected by the wildfires, are moving elsewhere

274
00:12:38.205 --> 00:12:39.285
because,

275
00:12:39.475 --> 00:12:41.285
because they've had to, you know,

276
00:12:41.285 --> 00:12:44.565
people in Florida are no longer able to afford,

277
00:12:44.665 --> 00:12:47.685
the insurance on their homes because of flooding,

278
00:12:47.715 --> 00:12:49.605
because of coastal erosion,

279
00:12:49.605 --> 00:12:51.245
because of back-to-back hurricanes.

280
00:12:51.425 --> 00:12:54.925
And many of them, are also having to move elsewhere.

281
00:12:55.545 --> 00:12:58.005
So right now, in the United States,

282
00:12:58.055 --> 00:13:00.885
there are 170 coastal communities

283
00:13:01.195 --> 00:13:03.925
that have reached the threshold for chronic inundation,

284
00:13:03.945 --> 00:13:07.725
and over half of them are communities of the underserved.

285
00:13:08.745 --> 00:13:09.885
So poor communities.

286
00:13:09.945 --> 00:13:12.405
And so, so yeah, you know,

287
00:13:12.405 --> 00:13:15.245
even wealthy nations are affected by the climate crisis.

288
00:13:15.585 --> 00:13:17.165
But I think, but even so,

289
00:13:17.405 --> 00:13:19.765
I think we have a particular obligation

290
00:13:19.765 --> 00:13:21.085
to the lesser developed nations.

Quick Answers

Redefining Refugee Status in a Changing Climate

00:00:00 - Our current definition, which is based on the UN definition of refugee, defines a refugee as a person who has been, who, has experienced persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. And so, nowhere in that definition do you see any reference to environmental disaster or climate change. So, so yes, we definitely need to, in an era of accelerated climate change, we need to consider either amending our definition of refugee

00:00:34 - who have been permanently displaced from their homes. I think for a long time, environmental disaster was considered as a, as a one-time temporary event, you know, that, communities were affected, say by an earthquake or by drought, or by a hurricane, but then they recovered. but in an era of accelerated climate change, recovery will become increasingly difficult. especially if, if you're experiencing back to back disasters at a, you know, at a rapid clip,

00:01:06 - for example, at present, there's, there's just no, no track for admission. the only track that we currently have on the books, that allows people to have temporary protection is a status that is known as temporary protected status. It was created by the 1990 Immigration Act, but there's a catch. In order to receive TPS, you already have to be in the United States, either as a student or as a merchant, as a tourist, even

Temporary Protections and Climate Refugees

00:01:37 - you could, under some qualifying conditions, be allowed to live and work in the United States for up to 18 months. And, and sometimes that status is renewable, but again, as I said, you have to already be in the United States. You can't migrate to the United States in order to receive TPS. Those are tracks that could be available to in the future. if the United States does not want to amend its refugee law,

00:02:09 - for admission specifically for climate refugees, it does have other legal instruments available at, at its disposal, and one of them is humanitarian parole. But again, humanitarian parole is permanent, is not permanent. It's temporary. And in order to remain permanently in the United States, Congress would have to pass what is known as an adjustment act in order to, allow, those, with that temporary status to remain permanently in the us.

00:02:39 - for climate refugees, but for, for people who were experiencing, political upheaval. So for example, during the Hungarian crisis of 56, during the Cuban Revolution, many, people from those two countries were admitted as humanitarian parolees, and then Congress passed Adjustment acts to normalize their status. But we've never done that for somebody who has been, displaced, be for environmental reasons, historically,

Adapting to Climate Displacement: Community Resilience and International Responsibility

00:03:12 - And people adapt. They either move internally within their own countries, or they adapt and, and they rebuild and, and they recreate their communities. And, and that's been the pattern in the past. And you know, right now, 80% of the world's, displaced populations on account of climate are internally displaced. But if the projections hold, we can expe expect to see more cross border migration as, more

00:03:42 - I mean, right now it's a small island states that are the most obvious examples of, of communities that are at the threat of, of being permanently displaced from their homes because of climate disruptions. The international community needs to proceed on multiple tracks at once. So we need to, as an international community, continue to provide humanitarian assistance. I mean, that's always been the response, and that needs to be, to continue to be a response. We also need to work together

00:04:15 - to the realities of climate change. We need to help communities adapt in their infrastructure and their housing and their agriculture so that they can exercise a basic human right to stay home. but when, staying home is not possible, then the nations need to work together to help to manage migration so that there's burden sharing. you know, the, the, the burden of accommodating, displaced populations shouldn't just

Global Responsibility in Addressing Climate Crisis

00:04:43 - It should be shared, by the international community as a whole, because we've all played a role in creating the climate crisis, especially the more developed nations, the wealthier nations who have a very large carbon footprint. They have a particular obligation to helping, lesser developed nations, adapt. we also need to address the behaviors that have accelerated climate change in the first place. You know, climate change is a fast moving train, and it's gonna take a while to slow that fast moving train.

00:05:17 - that have accelerated climate change in the first place. And, and then also, you know, and this is a much harder conversation, we also need to examine those policies that have impoverished and, and indebted nations, and left some on the front lines of a climate crisis that they did not create. So right now it's the poorer nations of the world that are on the front lines of the climate crisis. And, and many of them are so highly indebted that,

00:05:46 - to just servicing the debt, and they don't have the resources to implement those climate mitigation, policies that would help their, their populations be resilient. So I think, you Know, that's a, a much harder conversation that we need to have about, you know, what policies have created this crisis in the first place, members of one party who are very hostile to even recognizing that cl that human behavior has accelerated climate change. I mean, it's very common to hear among some, some politicians that yes, the climate has always changed

Political Resistance to Climate and Immigration Reform

00:06:20 - But, you know, at what other time in human history have we had 8 billion people on the planet all contributing to behaviors that are accelerating changes that in the deep past occurred over millennia rather than decades, right? so, so you have one group of politicians who, who just call the, climate change a hoax. And, and so when you have that kind of perspective, there is a resistance, to even considering creating a complimentary track for admission for, for,

00:06:51 - Right? But you know, also, there are many politicians right now who, who have been sitting on immigration reform as a whole. I mean, we're all in recognition here in, in the United States that we need to have immigration reform. It's long overdue. We haven't passed, a major piece of immigration reform in decades. And so it's time for one. And there was a bill that was introduced in Congress, but it's been held hostage for political reasons, right? because, immigration and,

00:07:25 - particular, has become one of the big rallying points for, for people on the right. There are many people, who have been discussing this for quite some time. So, for example, the U-N-H-C-R, the IOM, a a number of international non-governmental organizations have been, leading the cry or, or, or, or re reminding us that this is a collective responsibility

Revising Refugee Definitions in the Context of Climate Change

00:07:54 - but, but even, you know, long before, the U-N-H-C-R took up, the issue of climate change, you had, other kind of regional, bodies, addressing, other forms of displacement. They, they recognized that our definition of refugee was much too narrow and didn't, take into account the multiple forms of vulnerability that require people to move internally and,

00:08:26 - So, as early as 1969, for example, the African Union, developed a much more expansive definition of refugee status that took into account, how a generalized climate of disruption or, or, or violence can, or events seriously disturbing the public order can, can force people to migrate. Likewise, in 1984, the Garena declaration in response to the upheaval in Central America, also recognized That there were events

00:08:59 - so they attempted to create a much more expansive definition of refugee. And then now, in, in, since then as the U-N-H-C-R and the IOM and other international organizations have, you know, rung, rung the bell, you know, tried to, to put climate change on the agenda, they have also called for creating complimentary tracks for admission. I think there's some resistance to amending the refugee definition as it exists for fear

Challenges and Initiatives in Addressing Climate Migration

00:09:30 - for the politically displaced. And so I think most international bodies or, or agencies are now calling for a complementary track for admission. but, but there's, there's resistance. I mean, here in the United States, the first attempt to create that complementary track for admission occurred in 2019. when, representative Ni Velasquez and Senator Ed Markey introduced the first climate migration

00:10:02 - And so since then, you know, we haven't, received, you know, Congress has refused to act. The Biden administration, instead has focused on addressing the root causes of migration and trying to develop, resiliency. And so that led, for example, to the, Los Angeles declaration where 22 nations came together and agreed, that they would try to, create opportunities for people to stay home

00:10:34 - multiple conditions including climate change that are displacing them, and then also they pledge to work together to manage migration. We're also, at least, here in the United States, the Biden administration has, secured, commitments from industry, from private industry, for example, to, to create job opportunities to assist with infrastructure development and, and the like. so they've been working on multiple fronts to,

Addressing Climate Change and Its Impact on Vulnerable Nations

00:11:04 - but also to provide the technologies to provide the, the scientific knowledge, and, and also to create the jobs, that will convince people to that, that there are opportunities in their homeland. So, and so they'll, they'll, they'll be more likely to, exercise that right to stay home. I think we're all in agreement that, that climate change is a fast moving train and we are nowhere, meeting the targets of the Paris Agreement. And that is indeed worrisome.

00:11:36 - have a particular obligation to the lesser developed nations. I mean, the, you know, it, it's the lesser developed nations that are currently on the front lines, of, of the climate crisis, right? And many of them are former colonies whose wealth Was extracted for the benefit of the wealthier nations. as I said, they're highly indebted. they're, many of them, are experiencing intense levels of criminal violence,

00:12:06 - And so, so I think we have a particular obligation to, to these lesser developed nations. But, but every nation is experiencing, you know, the climate crisis. We're not immune from from it here in the United States. I mean, we just experienced two back to back hurricanes, hurricanes, Helene and, and Milton, which were devastating, right? And, you know, already we, and within the United States have internal migration of our own, where people from California, for example, long affected by the wildfires, are moving elsewhere

Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Communities

00:12:39 - because they've had to, you know, people in Florida are no longer able to afford, the insurance on their homes because of flooding, because of coastal erosion, because of back-to-back hurricanes. And many of them, are also having to move elsewhere. So right now, in the United States, there are 170 coastal communities that have reached the threshold for chronic inundation, and over half of them are communities of the underserved.

00:13:19 - And so, so yeah, you know, even wealthy nations are affected by the climate crisis. But I think, but even so, I think we have a particular obligation to the lesser developed nations.

Faculti AI can make mistakes

Research

Policy

Analysis

Data

Originals

Explainers

Podcasts

Watch the latest episode of The Exchange – the show where influential policymakers and leading researchers engage in insightful discussions shaping the future.

Episode: Brazil's Economic Resilience