Environmental Science
Climate-Induced Migration and the Politics of Refugee Recognition
Quick fact
In 2020, over 30 million people were newly displaced by weather-related disasters, yet none of them qualify for refugee status under the 1951 Refugee Convention, which only protects those fleeing persecution.
Why this is interesting
Every year, millions of people flee their homes because of droughts, floods, and rising seas—yet under international law, they are not recognized as refugees. Why does the system fail them?