Environmental Refugees: the discussion we need to have

Two of the most hotly debated topics in Australian news media are that of refugee intake and the impacts of climate change. So why is it that we never hear of them together? The United Nations High Commission for Refugees says that 36 million people globally were displaced by natural disasters in 2009 – the last year that a report of this nature was produced. While we have always had, and always will, have natural disasters, climate change is increasing their severity. Scientists are predicting that the number of environmentally displaced persons could rise to anywhere from 50-200 million by the year 2050. More than just natural disasters, climate change will displace people from their regions due to drought, flood, and sea level rises in coastal regions.

This is an issue that needs to be discussed more, and in greater detail, in Australian media and culture in order for a solution to be found and agreed upon before immediate action is required. Khalid Koser is the Executive Director of the Global Community Engagement and resilience Fund. He says that now is the time to plan for the arrival of environmental refugees arriving in Australia.

“This is an opportunity to plan ahead of time to ensure Australia has as much control as possible on the number of migrates that may be admitted, their profile, the conditions of their arrival, the length of their stay, and the rights to which they will be entitled,” he said.

Currently environmental refugees are not protected under any international law and their migration can cause social and economic problems, particularly when people from regional or coastal areas are forced to migrate to urban areas where their skills, i.e. as a farmer, aren’t required or there is a clash with local ethnic groups.