The Protection of People Moving in the Context of Climate Change and Environmental Degradation

Abstract Book of the 6th World Conference on Climate Change and Global Warming

Year: 2025

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The Protection of People Moving in the Context of Climate Change and Environmental Degradation

Adele Del Guercio

ABSTRACT:

There is actually widespread recognition that the adverse effects of climate change and disasters act as
contributing drivers of displacement, both within countries (internally displaced people) and across
borders. My proposal aims to determine whether the principle of non-refoulement, as affirmed in the
Geneva system for the protection of refugees and in the International system of human rights, is
applicable to the international migrations linked to the consequences of climate change and
environmental damage. We will look in particular at the decision made by the Human Rights Committee
(HRC) on 7 January 2020.
The Committee’s decision has had consequences in some national legal orders, when it has been cited in
support of requests for protection presented by migrants who, among other reasons for their departure,
have included the consequences of climate change or environmental degradation. We will focus in
particular on the Italian legal system. The Italian administrative bodies responsible for examining
applications for international protection and the courts have begun to give special protection to asylum
seekers who have left their country of origin due to adverse phenomena linked to climate change and
environmental degradation. Nevertheless, some of the countries of origin of migrants, which are among
those most exposed to climate change (e.g. Nigeria, Pakistan and Bangladesh), are considered by Italy to
be safe. Those arriving from these countries are considered economic migrants and are subject to
accelerated procedures of asylum and to an immediate expulsion.

Keywords: Climate Change, Displacement, International Migration, Teitiota Case, Non-Refoulement