Climate Change and Migration: International and National Legal Frameworks and Rights of Climate Migrants

جغرافیاوتوسعه ناحیه ای

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 17 May 2025

Document Type: Research

DOI: 10.22067/jgrd.2025.90876.1493

Authors

Roghayyeh Samadi¹; Majid Habibi Nokhandan^{* 2}

¹Postdoctoral Researcher at Research Institute of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science

²Associate Professor, Research Institute of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science

Abstract

Over the past decade, discussions about the relationship between the impact of climate change on migration and human displacement have gradually increased. This is particularly evident in global policy discourse, with a growing awareness of the need to develop legal frameworks and concrete solutions to support individuals who migrate due to climate conditions. Since climate-induced displacement has been addressed in various ways in international agreements, ambiguity in these frameworks sends confusing messages to governments attempting to implement them in line with their developmental goals. This study examines some international legal frameworks related to supporting migration caused by climate change. Additionally, certain high-level documents in this field at the national level have been reviewed. The findings indicate that, although some credible recommendations for managing climate-induced migration have emerged in recent years within international agreements, the overall international policy response has been insufficient. In particular, climate change law focuses on mitigation and adaptation to climate change but does not recognize a legal status for individuals who are unable to adapt to the consequences of climate change in their home countries and are forced to migrate. Moreover, an analysis of high-level national documents reveals a lack of attention to the overarching trends of climate change and its consequences, such as migration. None of these documents explicitly address the issue of supporting migration caused by climate change, nor do they establish a specific legal mechanism for it. In this regard, planners and policymakers must pay greater attention to integrating human mobility resulting from climate change into national laws, policies, and plans.

Keywords

Climate change; migration; displacement; climate-induced migration; legal frameworks