"In some parts of the world, in Africa for example, there are free movement agreements between certain countries, or groups of countries, that means people can move freely but we don't yet have anything like that in the Pacific, other than the trans-Tasman agreement that allows Australians and New Zealanders to move relatively freely." "We don't yet have clear international frameworks that would facilitate movement," she said. Video catches Queen criticising world leaders avoiding COP26
With no legal definition of a climate refugee, establishing those frameworks, according to Professor McAdam, is a key sticking point, particularly in this region where rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather events are posing existential threats to Pacific Islanders. "If displacement can't be prevented it's about making sure that people have the protection and assistance that they need after disaster strikes, and if people are displaced across borders that there are the right legal frameworks to make sure they are looked after and supported." "It's about having really inclusive and accessible disaster risk education measures in place that prevent displacement before it occurs, and make sure that communities are included in these responses," she said.
Jessica Van Son, s ecretariat of the Asia Pacific Migration Network based at Australian Red Cross, said preventative action needed to be taken to avoid moving people from their homes, which should be a last resort. Some will relocate within their own countries, while others may be displaced further afield. Intensifying wildfires, cyclones, droughts and floods are also making life increasingly precarious for millions of people.Īs climate change exacerbates these pressures, there is the increased potential that more people will need to move to avoid displacement or seek refuge away from their homes. "So we will see movement in anticipation of, or as a disaster hits and we are also starting to see movement in anticipation of long-term processes like sea level rises." It's happening right now and climate change is only going to increase the severity and or the frequency of these disasters," she said. "So it's not just an issue that's happening in the future. Net zero emissions plan at impasse with Nationals still refusing to endorse targetĪccording to Professor McAdam, disaster-related movement now makes up 75 per cent of internal displacement compared to the 25 per cent caused by war or conflict.
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