Climate Refugees: The Growing Challenge of Displacement in International Politics

The escalating climate crisis presents an existential threat to humanity, with the emergence of novel challenges. The displacement of millions due to severe environmental conditions has ignited a global emergency. Projections indicate that by 2050, an estimated 200 million individuals will be forced from their homes due to rising sea levels, drought, river erosion, and salinity, resulting in a surge of climate refugees—a term that has yet to garner widespread recognition. The absence of established institutions specifically designed to address the needs of climate refugees constitutes a primary obstacle in acknowledging and addressing this growing crisis. 

BIPSS Research Assistant Nabib Bin Zahid argued in this commentary that the establishment of such institutions, coupled with substantial financial support to compensate those affected by climate change, is imperative to foster global cooperation and mitigate the impending catastrophe before it reaches an irreversible point.