User:Claire941

review The creation of a body designed to assist with the relocation of persons of whom homes are threatened by climate change has been removed from a UN draft report in the crucial lead up to the December climate conference negotiations. A previous draft crafted by the UN included a “climate change displacement coordination facility” that would provide “organised migration and planned relocation”, with further provisions to provide compensation to people fleeing rising sea levels, extreme weather and ruined agriculture.

However a reference to such a body has ben removed from a revised text released in the lead up to the Paris conference. Australia opposed the measure. Indeed a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said, “Australia does not see the creation of the climate change displacement coordination facility as the most effective or efficient way to progress meaningful international action to address the impacts of climate change, Australia is already working closely with our Pacific partners on these important issues.”

The UN has predicted that climate change will displace 250 million people worldwide by 2050. Many of Australia’s low lying pacific island neighbours are at significant risk. Nations such as Kiribati, The Solomon Islands and Tuvala, face dangers to their food security, water supply and eroding coast lines. Kiribati has already bought land in Fiji, primarily to be used for agricultural purposes to help assure the nations food security. President Anote Tong has also raised the idea of having to relocate the entire nations population if sea levels continue to rise.

In light of this advocates have argued that a new international framework needs to be created to safeguard the interests of climate refugees or alternatively propose sufficient amendments to the current refugee convention, which as it currently stands does not cover them because they are not fleeing persecution.

Indeed Last month Loane Teitiota, a Kiribati man who has been living in New Zealand was deported back to his native country after a failed attempt to be seek refugee status on the grounds of climate change. Mr Teitota argued that returning to Kiribati constituted a serious risk to both his and his family’s health due to contaminated water supplies and rising sea levels. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key stated that he did not find Mr Teitiotas’ plea to be a “credible argument.”


 * October 7, 2015


 * September 23, 2015


 * July 1, 2014


 * {{source|url=http://www.unhcr.org/493e9bd94.html
 * title=Top UNHCR official warns about displacement from climate change
 * author=By Melita H. Sunjic
 * pub=UNHCR
 * date=} }December 9, 2008