When the Land No Longer Provides. Human Rights and the Status of “Climate Refugees” in the Sahel
When the Land No Longer Provides. Human Rights and the Status of “Climate Refugees” in the Sahel
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Date
2023
Authors
Shynn, Daniel George
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Global Campus of Human Rights
Abstract
Climate change disproportionately impacts the enjoyment
of human rights in climate-vulnerable areas around the world,
one example of which is the Sahel region of Africa. This thesis focuses
on the human rights of environmentally displaced persons
in this region, commonly labelled as ‘climate refugees’ but lacking
a legal definition. Terminological ambiguities over the concept
of ‘climate refugees’ are expounded and situated within the
unique geography and history of the Sahel region. The impact that
climate change has on the Sahel region, especially slow onset effects,
are assessed and aligned with the causes of involuntary migration,
noting that migration is a regular phenomenon in the Sahel
and has long been an adaptation method. Relevant international
and regional legal approaches are examined, establishing
that although legal mechanisms which could protect the human
rights of environmentally displaced persons exist, gaps remain in
the implementation of these mechanisms. This information is utilised
to propose a human rights-based approach that favours regional
legal frameworks and local cooperation in lieu of an international
legal definition for ‘climate refugees’. Using an interdisciplinary
approach that incorporates international law, philosophy,
and history perspectives, this thesis contributes to theoretical and
practical understandings on the relationship between climate
change and human mobility and promotes the value of regional
context and capabilities when implementing a human rightsbased
approach.
Description
Second semester University: University of Ljubljana
Keywords
climatic changes,
displaced persons,
migrations,
sub-Saharan region,
Africa