Article Title

The Impact (or Lack Thereof) of Recent Environmental Negotiations on Climate Induced Displacement

Authors

Aaron Silberman, Georgetown University

Abstract

As the effects of climate change on the human condition become increasingly apparent, a growing body of literature has been authored concerning climate­ induced displacement. While desertification, sea level rise, extreme weather events, and other climatic factors have increased the number of climate displaced persons (CDPs), political and legal frameworks have been slow to respond to the burgeoning crisis. Despite its unprecedented nature and significant accomplishments, the 2015 Paris Agreement includes little mention of displacement, migration, or refugees; the same is true of the resolutions adopted at the second session of the United Nations Environment Assembly and the 22nd Conference of the Parties. This paper offers an analysis of the COP21, UNEA II, and COP22 environmental negotiations and specifically focuses on how the language of the aforementioned gatherings have, or have not, affected the nexus of climate change and displacement. This evaluation yields the following: that COP21, UNEA II, and COP22 have not yet had significant impact on the status of current and potential CDPs, and that vulnerable communities require additional legal and political frameworks to ensure dignified migration.

Recommended Citation

Silberman, Aaron (2018) "The Impact (or Lack Thereof) of Recent Environmental Negotiations on Climate Induced Displacement," Undergraduate Journal of Global Citizenship: Vol. 2: Iss. 3, Article 4.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.fairfield.edu/jogc/vol2/iss3/4