Europe, from political refugee to climate refugee

Millions of people are forced to move around the world. These migratory movements are set to increase as a result of natural and environmental disasters. At present, only political migration is covered by the right of asylum. The Geneva Convention of 28 July 1951 and its 1967 protocol relating to the status of refugees, ratified by 145 States, establishes the non-refoulement obligation of States under international law with regard to refugees and asylum seekers. This obligation was created by the legislator in order to protect refugees.

In this spirit, the aim is to find ways of creating the conditions for protecting the human rights of those who are the victims of natural disasters or pollution, so that they can be better cared for.

Climatic responsibility is difficult, if not impossible, to determine, but this should not prevent the development of specific policies aimed at protecting people forced to move as a result of natural or environmental disasters. Europe undoubtedly has a particular responsibility to initiate this reflection: it is the custodian of the current refugee status, which it created, and like many other countries will soon be confronted with this phenomenon, which is unprecedented in the history of humanity.

Migration is unavoidable in some cases, and States should create the tools to measure obligations and thus respond to harm, and avoid situations of refoulement. Although it is virtually impossible to define the legal status of climate migrants, it should be possible to protect individuals.

The aim is to obtain the creation of a climate refugee status and its implementation, with the following sub-objectives:

• Correlating the status of political and environmental refugees;
• A review of international law ;
• Identify all the bottlenecks and possible levers for Europe
• Providing arguments
• Draw up analyses to monitor the road ahead
• Organise a watch on the subject
• Actively represent the interest group to the European institutions

The group will meet mainly by videoconference