Laws can't cope with climate exiles

20 October, 2009 - FIELD warns that international legal frameworks are unprepared to deal with people displaced by climate change. Although estimates vary widely as to how many climate exiles can be expected, it is clear that the international community needs to prepare for the likelihood that some small island countries and low-lying territories will be lost in the future. This raises unprecedented legal challenges related to loss of statehood, control of natural resources and human rights.

FIELD Director Joy Hyvarinen says: "Migration in itself is not bad, but migration forced by climate change is a tragedy'.

Climate change is expected to hit developing countries the hardest. Its effects - higher temperatures, rising sea levels, food insecurity and more frequent weather-related disasters - pose risks for agriculture, food, and water supplies causing chaos for millions of people. The so-called ‘climate hotspots' - low lying islands, coastal regions, large river deltas and underdeveloped regions - remain in danger of catastrophic environmental change.

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