Risks or Challenges of Climate Change: The Case of Climate Refugees

Abstract

The causes of climate change and extreme events have been widely discussed in academic and scientific circles. Between natural and historical factors characterized by determinism and imponderability and the anthropogenic factors resulting from human, social, and economic-productive evolution, consensus is not always easy to define. However, scientific research has increasingly shown that human action has contributed to the great acceleration of the effects since the emergence of the era of humans.

More than just a list of causes, it is important to understand the impacts in different regions of the world, particularly in terms of the affectation on people. The populations that suffer the most from the effects of extreme weather events are the poorest, who live in close dependence on nature and therefore suffer from vulnerability without foreseeing the risks they face. The population that is most affected and often suffers from threats to their lives is forced to leave, either individually, in groups, or massively with no return date. Today, the international community recognizes the need to analyze and frame these people who seek international protection without being offered and guaranteed.

This chapter presents a discussion of the causes of the multiplication of extreme environmental events, particularly climatic events, in order to better understand the social and human implications of the production of forced social movements due to environmental causes. Although multilateral organizations recognize the existence of new categories of people in mobility for environmental reasons, there is still a gap in the framework of international law, which represents a global challenge.

Citation

Brito, B. (2024), "Risks or Challenges of Climate Change: The Case of Climate Refugees", Açikalin, Ş.N. and Erçetin, Ş.Ş. (Ed.) The Social Consequences of Climate Change, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 51-65. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83797-677-520241005