By: Rosemary Stephen, Elements: Environmental Health Intelligence
Part I:
The Current State
Climate change is a serious global problem resulting in disrupted weather patterns, violent storms, rising global temperatures and rising ocean levels. Climate change is also displacing people; small family groups to whole populations are being forced to leave their homelands due to environmental changes that make the land unproductive and inhospitable. These displaced people are increasingly categorized as ‘Climate Change Refugees’ or ‘Environmental Refugees.’
Who are these refugees? This is actually a difficult question as there is disagreement about the definition of a 
‘climate change refugee.’ In fact, these refugees are still not officially recognized even though we are in the midst of a global human displacement crisis. The term ‘climate change refugee’ is not even accepted by all relief agencies. Currently, the United Nations’ definition of a ‘refugee’ applies only to legal refugees. The official definition states: a legal refugee is “a person who has fled his or her country due to persecution by the state for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion” [1]. The United Nations’ High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) feels that expanding “the Refugee Convention (1951) to include climate refugees may reduce protection for the conventional political refugees” [2]. Simply stated, the Geneva Convention does not recognizes climate change refugees yet [3]. This may be due to limited resources; the UNHCR is already struggling to work with 14.3 million political refugees in the world and cannot see itself managing more with the resources they currently have.
Other concerned agencies have tried to put together a more acceptable definition of a ‘Climate Change Refugee’ or ‘Environmental Refugee’ or even an ‘Environmental Migrant.’ In 1985, Essam El-Hinnawi from the United National Environmental Programme (UNEP) proposed the following definition: “those people who have been forced to leave their traditional habitat, temporarily or permanently, because of a marked environmental disruption (natural and/or triggered by people) that jeopardized their existence and/or seriously affected the quality of their life [sic]. By ‘environmental disruption’ in this definition is meant any physical, chemical, and/or biological changes in the ecosystem (or resource base) that render it, temporarily or permanently, unsuitable to support human life” [4]. Later in 1995, Myers and Kent from Green College, Oxford University, England, proposed this shorter definition: “persons who no longer gain a secure livelihood in their traditional homelands because of what are primarily environmental factors of unusual scope” [5].
Vikram Odedra Kolmannskog of the Norwegian Refugee Council, in his booklet entitled Climate Change Refugees Seek a New International Deal states that these definitions are not representative because “there is still no agreed definition and typology of environmental refugees or migrants – and even less so in the case of the so-called “climate refugees” [6]. One of the problems faced in the definition of ‘climate change refugees’ is the ‘grey area’; poverty, population growth (causing reduction of available farmland), drought, desertification and deforestation are often at the root of internal wars in numerous developing countries. People flee these conflicts, abandoning their homes, either temporarily or permanently, for more advantageous areas [7]. Are these refugees ‘legal’ or ‘climate change’ ? In Case for Recognition, Andrew Simms and Molly Conisbee, two British writers, offer more precision with this definition of environmental refugees. One characteristic is that they live “in weak or failed states that do not have the resources to resettle or assist those in need. Some states may be hostile or even be at the root of development-induced displacement” [8].
My own attempt at a definition for climate change refugees is as follows: “people living in an environment where slow motion disasters have occurred or will occur. These disasters are caused by human activity (development, conflict, etc) and by the earth’s natural cycles of glaciation and warming.” Droughts and the rising sea levels are signs of the disease, famine and immigration the symptoms [9]. At the time this blog was written, the United National Environmental Programme (UNEP) is the only agency which recognizes “the existence of environmental refugees” [10].
Recognition of Environmental Refugees in Countries in Conflict
How do you recognize environmental refugees in countries affected by climate change that has, in turn, induced internal wars? What are the difference among the definitions of environmental refugees, legal refugees and internally displaced person (IDP) ? The situation in Darfur provides a example of how difficult the recognition of environmental refugees can be [11]. Darfur is a province in western Sudan where two contrasting cultures live. One group of people is transhumant (of Arab descent) — who follow their herds of cattle and goats to find food. The other group consists of settled farmers (the Nuba Tribe) who own land. These two peoples are fighting over productive lands which are decreasing every year due to climate change. These conflicts were originally resolved through mediation, but after the election of a ‘pro-grazing’ government, this conflict has escalated into a war where 2.5 million people have sought refuge in Chad, a neighboring country to the west [12].
Under the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), these citizens are classified as environmental refugees because this area has seen a 30% decrease in rainfall over the last 40 years, resulting in the advancement of the Sahara into fertile land at a rate of over one mile (1.6 km) per year [13]. Darfur peace campaigners, however, do not believe that climate change was the only cause of the conflict. They place much of the responsibility on the government, claiming that it is a “brutal Government intent on genocide“[14] .
Amnesty International has appealed to the United Nations Security Council to protect all Dafurian civilians living in Chad and Sudan [15]. The United Nations’ High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has issued identity cards to the people of Darfur who live in Chadian refugee camps allowing them “free movement within the host country and access to some basic services in line with the 1951 Geneva Refugee Convention” [16]. By doing so, the UNHCR has granted Darfurians in Chad official recognition and the status of ‘Legal Refugees.’ Darfurians, however, who have moved out of their home villages and sought refuge within the borders of Sudan are called ‘Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) and do not have the protection of legal refugees. There is no dedicated UN agency, at the moment, which can offer some form of support for IDPs. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has, however, stepped forward and is now acting as an ad hoc agency in IDP matters [17] while waiting for other agencies to take over.
Wide Ranging Results; Immigration Restrictions and Illegal Refugees
Developed countries are currently in the process of restricting immigration. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) [18] observes that many countries see refugees as being “someone else’s problem.” In other words, countries do not feel responsible for what is going on in developing countries, thus justifying using deterrent practices to restrict immigration [19].The first deterrent is visa restriction. This is designed to make the destination country more difficult to enter for any type of immigrant. Visas restrict immigration due to their cost and due to lack of availability. The second deterrent is the ’safe country’ or ’safe third country’ concept. “The notion of ’safe third country’ or ‘host third country’ is: An asylum seeker is denied access to the refugee status determination procedure….on the grounds that he or she already enjoyed, could or should have requested and, if qualified, would actually be granted asylum in another country [20].” This means that unless the applicants can prove their country of origin is unsafe and that his or her life is in danger, there is no legal reason to grant asylum. Applicants are asked to prove they sought protection in their country or within a safe area of their country and also to prove they sought asylum in the first safe country they reached. If the applicants cannot meet these stipulations, asylum is not granted. The view of the ’safe third country’ policy is: why request asylum elsewhere if all avenues have not been tried in the country of origin first [21].
Restrictions, however, are not working. Every year, an increasing number of people (about 500,000 illegal immigrants), mostly young men, enter Europe. They reach Libya from West Africa, the Horn of Africa and East Africa through Chad, Niger and the Sudan before they cross into Spain or Italy. Undeterred by restrictions, illegal immigrants enter prospective adopting countries illicitly (and often in great personal danger) as stowaways or by road [22]. Refugees, either legal or illegal, generally just want employment with a better income so they can send money back to the family they left behind.
In response to this increasing pressure on population levels, finances and health issues, however, many large and/or developing countries are responding more physically to reduce the flow of illegal immigration by adopting harsh laws, erecting boarder fences, increasing border patrols and establishing refugee camps. Examples include Libya and India. In Libya, the government has issued laws that require immigrants to have a steady job and if they do not, they are expatriated immediately [23]. India faces an immigration crisis with Bangladesh where rising water levels and deforestation have made large areas of the country uninhabitable. In order to reduce the rate of illegal immigrants, India is constructing a 2,500 mile (4,022 km) barrier along its border with Bangladesh [24].
The Future
The number of environmental refugees is expected to total 50 million by next year [25]. This number is estimated to increase steadily to 200 million and even higher because of climate disruption [26]. The German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) suggests that instead of fighting immigration, Europe should collaborate with African countries by establishing methods such as anti-desertification schemes, non-mechanized agriculture as well as political and economic reforms to decrease the need for their populations to migrate [27]. WBGU has also suggested that the United States apply the same principle to their illegal emigration problems coming from countries such as South America and the Caribbean Islands [28].
Conclusion
Disagreement exists about the definition of an ‘Environmental Refugee.’ The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has limited financial means and, at the moment, cannot become involved; already responsible for 14.3 million political refugees, the UNHCR is struggling. The United National Environmental Programme (UNEP) is the only agency which does recognize the existence of environmental refugees which could total 50 million individuals by next year.
Tension is already building in countries which are facing an increasing number of illegal immigrants. The pressure has caused a number of countries to take protective actions and to push the problem out of their boundaries. Poverty, population growth, drought, desertification compounds the problem even more.
The German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) suggests that instead of fighting emigration, Europe and the United States should collaborate with African countries by establishing methods such has anti-desertification schemes, non mechanized agriculture and economic reforms to decrease the need for populations to migrate.
Part II:
What can the World Do ?
In Part II of Climate Change and Climate Change Refugees I will look at ways the world can be proactive in its approach to climate change and how we can decrease the flow of environmental refugees.
Rosemary Stephen (2009). Climate Change and Climate Change Refugees, Part I Elements: Environmental Health Intelligence (August)
References:
[1] Policy: Climate change refugees seek a new international deal (2008) Climate News for Business, ClimateChangeCorp. (On-line) Available: http://www.climatechangecorp.com/content.asp?ContentID=5871. Cited 2009 June 26.
[2] Ibid. Cited 2009 June 26.
[3] Reed, S., Environment and Security (2007) Topics/Core Issues, Climate Institute. (On-line) Available: http://www.climate.org/topics/environmental-security/index.html. Cited 2009 Jun 30.
[4] UN warns of growth in climate change refugees (2008) Environment, TimesOnline (On-line) Available: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4159923.ece?token=null&offset=12&page=2. Cited 2009 Jun 26.
[5] Kolmannskog,V.O., Future floods of refugees, A comment on climate change, conflict and forced migration (2008) Norwegian Refugees Council. (On-line) Available: http://www.nrc.no/arch/_img/9268480.pdf. Cited 2009 Jun 26.
[6] Ibid. Cited 2009 Jun 26.
[7] Myers, N. Prof., Environmental Refugees: An Emergent Security Issue (2005) Green College, Oxford University, U.K. (On-line) Available: http://www.osce.org/documents/eea/2005/05/14488_en.pdf.Cited 2009 Jun 30.
[8] Reed, S., Environment and Security (2007) Topics/Core Issues, Climate Institute. (On-line) Available: http://www.climate.org/topics/environmental-security/index.html. Cited 2009 Jun 30.
[9] Cascio, J., Environmental Refugees. (2005) WorldChanging, change your thinking, Time Magazine. (On-line) Available: http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/003618.html. Cited 2009 Aug 10.
[10] Reed, S., Environment and Security (2007) Topics/Core Issues, Climate Institute. (On-line) Available: http://www.climate.org/topics/environmental-security/index.html. Cited 2009 Jun 30.
[11] UN warns of growth in climate change refugees (2008) Environment, TimesOnline (On-line) Available: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4159923.ece?token=null&offset=12&page=2. Cited 2009 Jun 26.
[12] About the Crisis (2009) Human Rights First. (On-line) Available: http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/international_justice/darfur/about/background.asp.
Cited 2009 Aug 04.
[13] Borger, J., Darfur conflict heralds era of wars triggered by climate change, UN report warns (2007) Guardian.co.uk. (On-line) Available: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/jun/23/sudan.climatechange. Cited 2009 Aug 04.
[14] Crilly, B., Darfur conflict is ‘warning to world’ of climate change peril. (2007) Timesonline. (On-line) Available: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article1975132.ece. Cited 2009 Aug 04.
[15] Refugees and Internally Displaced People, Darfur Refugees (2009) Amnesty International USA. (On-line) Available: http://www.amnestyusa.org/darfur/darfur-facts/darfur-refugees/page.do?id=1102022. Cited 2009 Aug 04.
[16] Ibid. Cited 2009 Aug 04.
[17] Internally displaced person (2009) Economic expert.com. (On-line) Available: http://www.economicexpert.com/a/Internally:displaced:person.html. Cited 2009 Aug 05.
[18] Myers, N. Prof., Environmental Refugees: An Emergent Security Issue (2005) Green College, Oxford University, U.K. (On-line) Available: http://www.osce.org/documents/eea/2005/05/14488_en.pdf. Cited 2009 Jun 30.
[19] Harvey, C., Seeking Asylum in the UK Problem and Prospect. (2000) Mapping the Europeanisation of asylum law. (On-line) Available: http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Afr%3Aofficial&q=Organization+for+Security+and+Co-operation+in+Europe+(OSCE)+and+environmental+refugees&btnG=Search&meta. Cited 2009 Aug 07.
[20] European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE),“SAFE THIRD COUNTRIES” myths and realities. (On-line) Available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/403b5cbf4.pdf. Cited 2009 Aug. 12.
[21] Harvey, C., Seeking Asylum in the UK Problem and Prospect. (2000) Mapping the Europeanisation of asylum law. (On-line) Available: http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Afr%3Aofficial&q=Organization+for+Security+and+Co-operation+in+Europe+(OSCE)+and+environmental+refugees&btnG=Search&meta. Cited 2009 Aug 07.
[22] Mwangura, A., Illegal Immigrants and Stowaways (2004) Seafarers Assistance Program.(On-line) Available: http://www.ecop.info/english/e-sap-net-35.htm. Cited 2009 Aug 10.
[23] Ibid. Cited 2009 Aug 10.
[24] UN warns of growth in climate change refugees (2008) Environment, TimesOnline (On-line) Available: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4159923.ece?token=null&offset=12&page=2. Cited 2009 Jun 26.
[25] Ibid. Cited 2009 Jun 26.
[26] Ibid. Cited 2009 Jun 26.
[27] Policy Responses to Climate Refugees: What Are Governments Doing? (2009) Climate institute. (On-line) Available: http://www.climate.org/topics/environmental-security/climate-refugee-policy.html. Cited 2009 Jul 14.
[28] Ibid. Cited 2009 Jun 26.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Where?
Only Darfur? Different weather patterns since the mid-century cooling. OK… How were they doing during the cooling period?
OscarG is asking: How were they doing during the cooling period mid century?
What was the temperature like during the 1950’s? Well it was wetter in Dafur than it is today. I have found two very interesting power point presentations that answer your question more fully. Nick Brooks authored these two presentations. The first one is titled “Climate Change and the Sahel Mobility & modernity in a long-term environmental context” and the second one “Climate Change a Factor in the Darfur Conflict?”. The first presentation focuses on the past history of the Sahel region starting 8,000 years ago. The second explains the weather in Darfur during the 1950’s, as well as a table showing precipitation patterns since the 1900’s.
Increased rainfall during the 1950’s saw climate conditions favorable for agriculture. During this period, Sudan and the province of Darfur were under British colonial rule. Subsistence and transhumant pasturalism practices gave way to more modern methods of raising food and cattle. Cereals, rice, and fruits were cultivated in the Marrah highlands of Sudan while sorghum, millet, sesame, peanuts (groundnuts), other root crops, and vegetables were planted in the southern part of Darfur. Camels, sheep, and goats were raised in the arid north.
As agriculture became more profitable, a number of farmers moved into marginal lands forcing pasturalists to move toward the desert fringes where food for animal raising was scarce. Over-grazing and the destruction of forests for agriculture and for cooking fuel has contributed to a net decrease in soil moisture and has increased the effect of climate change. This has seeded within the community the conflict that we see today. The emergence of hashish cultivation as a cash-crop has also played a role. The third reference listed below will give you more details as well it discusses what is being done today to decrease hashish production and to increase food harvest.
As you can see OscarG, the Darfur situation is man made, but it is exacerbated by climate change.
(1) Brooks, N. Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research(2009), School of Environmental Science, Universtry of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.(On-line) Available: http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/~e118/Prespod/Brooks_CC+Darfur.ppt. Cited 2009 Aug 20.
(2) Brooks, N. Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research(2009), School of Environmental Science, Universtry of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.(On-line) Available: http://www.sahel.org.uk/…/Events%20-%20Nick%20Brooks%20Presentation%20-%20SOS%20Sahel%20UK%20Public%20Debate%2009.pdf. Cited 2009 Aug 20.
(3) Mannan Mohamed, H, Karim, E-F. I. A. and Mohamed M.I. Hashish cultivation in the state of Southern Darfour, Sudan (1998) Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal. (On-line) Available: http://www.emro.who.int/Publications/Emhj/0401/18.htm. Cited 2009 Aug 20.
As regulators we strive so hard to show the public where our requirements are based on hard sience (proven principles) while some of us are embracing Global warming as a proven principle. Who’s fooling who? The theory of spontaneous generation had as much proof as Global warming does today. Incomplete data, miniscule sampling (100 years at best), and selective data analysis; hey the local weather man admits his inaccuracies. Despite the fact that science is based on proof, not consensus we make predictions and esteem Global warming enthusiasts. The zealots have somehow mustered greater credibility than Dionne Warwick and her psychic friends network while their predictions suffer the same lack of proof. Quick, call the psychic hotline for the next Global warming dire prediction!