The place of international law and relevant bodies in addressing climate change displacement – the move towards cooperation

Abstract

Anthropogenic climate change is no longer a debate. The Summary for Policymakers of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report states ‘it is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.’ Throughout climate change science, literature, negotiations and debates run a golden threat: The effects of climate change will result in grave consequences for humans. Effects of climate change can range from less water availability, decrease in crop yields, negative impacts on health to rising sea-levels, change in tropical storms and cyclone frequency or intensity, changes in rainfall regimes, increases in temperatures, changes in atmospheric chemistry and the melting of mountain glaciers. While the impacts and effects of climate change vary, environmental degradation, sea-level rise, conflict over resources, droughts and floods may ultimately result in people moving, either temporarily or permanently, within or across borders.