The Argos Collective would like to encourage further thought.
"Climate refugees: towards an international legal status"

General context

As it becomes aware of its share of responsibility in global warming, humankind finds itself more vulnerable than ever - with its diversity, if not its existence, in danger.


The rise in the average temperature threatens in particular people who live near arid areas, Arctic regions, in deltas, on the coastline and in the lowlands. They are most often poor populations who already live in precarious environmental conditions and for whom global warming is one more unwanted factor, turning poverty into misery, and settlement into exile. 


According to an estimation published in 2005 by the United Nations University, migrations linked to global warming could reach 50 million people by 2010.

Aware of the climatic, anthropological and geopolitical perspectives outlined by - among others - the GIEC, the international community urgently needs to take up the question of climatic migrations so as to organize political, legal and financial means.


While the reality of the existence of a climatic danger of anthropic origin is causing less and less debate, it is vital to broaden the status of refugee to climate change displaced persons. This could be the starting block of an international mobilisation and the legal embryo of 'climate justice' long awaited by the populations on the front line of global warming. 
 

3rd World Forum on Human Rights - July 2008
Round table on the status of climate refugees
UCLG network

From global to local
In uniting politicians, activists and leaders of NGOs, universities and international experts, and representatives of international organisations, the Forum created under the aegis of UNESCO wishes to support and develop the networks of those involved in the protection, respect and implementation of human rights, by strengthening the solidarity between these different players.


Involvement
The Permanent Secretariat 'Human rights and local governments' intends to link global issues to local configurations. The Argos Collective jointly organizes this event and in responding to this round table on the status of climate refugees, the Forum intends to establish direct links between the future flood of migrations and the large global centres. Involving individuals in the field means sharing experiences and thoughts to serve Human Rights. 

Coordination
After the appeal from the reflection group on climate migrations in June in the European Parliament, this round table will address the people involved in the field on a local level and in the four corners of the world.
Argos and the reflection group on climate migrations will take part in the two events and in this way help to build bridges between local action and politics.


 

European Parliament - June 2008
International protection for 'climate refugees'
Reflection group on climate migrations


Human Rights
Under the presidency of Hélène Flautre, President of the European Parliament's Subcommittee of Human Rights, a reflection group on climate migrations, is working on an appeal addressed to MEPs in June 2008.

Looking ahead
Jurists, economists, specialists in migrations, politicians, journalists and representatives of the already affected communities together offer such a large scope of activities and different points of view making this appeal a concrete base for the awareness of the migratory floods that Europe must face. Taking on this issue now means anticipating adequate solutions and letting the public participate in the adaptation and apprehension of these phenomena linked to climate change.

Transfer
This work group in which Argos is taking part aims to question the European members of Parliament about a necessary acknowledgement of international protection for 'climate refugees'.
In the short term this French action will focus on European awareness but hopes that Europe, by taking a political stance, will then hand the responsibility over to the international level.