International protection for people displaced across borders in the context of climate change and disasters: A practical toolkit

A new global resource provides practical legal guidance for decision-makers navigating international protection claims involving climate change and disasters. This practical toolkit, developed by experts at UNSW’s Kaldor Centre, the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS), the University of Essex, and in collaboration with UNHCR, offers a clear and systematic approach to these complex cases.

It explains when, why and how existing refugee and human rights law can protect people forced to leave their homes in situations where climate change or disasters play a role. The Practical Toolkit: 

• highlights a growing body of case law from around the world involving someone who crosses an international border in these circumstances;
• outlines the law used to determine their claim for refugee status or complementary protection; 
• reveals how international and regional legal frameworks may be applied to future cases involving the impacts of climate change or disasters; and  
• identifies five key considerations that should guide decision-making in such cases.