Document Abstract
Published:
2012
Environmentally-induced displacement: theoretical frameworks and current challenges
Environmental hazards and short-lived natural disasters have significant implications for population mobility
The aim of the current paper is to demonstrate environmentally-induced displacement as an increasingly important category of population movement that represents a new set of challenges to the international community.
The paper enumerates the most common causes of environmentally-induced displacement as follows: chemical and radioactive contamination, sea level rise, deforestation, desertification, soil salinity, droughts, earthquakes and tsunamis, famine, diseases, floods, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions and wildfires.
As a result, the document categorises environmental displacements in three types:
Additionally, the authors mention the “environmentally conditioned migration of a totally voluntary nature”.
Conclusions are as follows:
The paper finally states that Africa remains the continent with by far one of the largest number of environmental forced migrants worldwide. In this context, it notes that the desertification problem covers the whole of North Africa and many areas in other parts of the continent, while Africa in general is highly affected by flood.
The paper enumerates the most common causes of environmentally-induced displacement as follows: chemical and radioactive contamination, sea level rise, deforestation, desertification, soil salinity, droughts, earthquakes and tsunamis, famine, diseases, floods, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions and wildfires.
As a result, the document categorises environmental displacements in three types:
- displacement that results from irreversible changes in the surrounding ecosystem
- displacement that results from cyclical environmental factors
- migration caused by natural disasters or man-made catastrophes
Additionally, the authors mention the “environmentally conditioned migration of a totally voluntary nature”.
Conclusions are as follows:
- high transnational migration potential is characterised by drought and/or rising sea level
- the emergence of certain global environmental processes, such as greenhouse gases emission and ozone depletion prompts the international community to take common and coordinated actions
- the problem of environmentally-induced displacement in public international law is shaped through the activities of international institutions: initially only those associated with the UN system, currently also regional ones
- however, international law is rigid and international institutions are working too slowly and not always adequately to the needs and dynamics of the threats that appear in many places of the world
The paper finally states that Africa remains the continent with by far one of the largest number of environmental forced migrants worldwide. In this context, it notes that the desertification problem covers the whole of North Africa and many areas in other parts of the continent, while Africa in general is highly affected by flood.
