THE CONCEPT OF CLIMATE MIGRATION: ADAPTING INTERNATIONAL LAW TO CLIMATE CHANGE?

Abstract

CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS HUMAN MOBILITY, BUT IT DOES NOT CREATE NEW MIGRATION SCENARIOS OR DISTINCT ?CLIMATE MIGRANTS.? NEVERTHELESS, OFTEN SIMPLISTIC POLITICAL DISCOURSES ON CLIMATE OR ENVIRONMENTAL MIGRATION HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT OF POLICY ARGUMENTS RELATING TO HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, MIGRATION, CLIMATE CHANGE, OR TO PROMOTE NATIONAL SECURITY OR ECONOMIC INTERESTS. THIS BOOKS ASSESSES THE VALIDITY AND PROSPECTS OF THESE DIFFERENT NARRATIVES. WILL THE CONCEPT OF CLIMATE MIGRATION HAVE AN IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL GOVERNANCE? THIS BOOK ARGUES THAT IT MIGHT, BUT NOT NECESSARILY WHAT MOST ADVOCATES HOPE FOR. THROUGHOUT THE DISCUSSION, IT APPEARS THAT THE WEAKNESSES OF THE CONCEPT OF CLIMATE MIGRATION COULD EASILY BE UTILIZED IN ARGUMENTS IN FAVOUR OF REPRESSIVE POLICIES AGAINST MIGRATION OR FOR THE DEFENSE OF INDUSTRIAL NATIONS AGAINST PERCEIVED THREATS FROM THE THIRD WORLD.