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Representatives from Latin American and Caribbean countries recently met to discuss how to respond to “forced displacement due to disasters,” including the impacts of the climate crisis, in implementation of the 1984 Cartagena Declaration. The United States has not adopted the declaration or joined the group, but it should pay attention and reflect on its own policies, because some people in need of protection—especially from the Americas—will seek to move to the United States.
Often, the people most affected by extreme weather events, including those exacerbated by climate change, live in The location with the least responsibility Tackling the climate crisis. Extreme weather causes more than half of new Shift In 2023, 26.4 million people will be displaced worldwide due to extreme weather events such as floods and droughts.
As the climate crisis intensifies, The United States has been trying to limit asylum applications and narrow the scope of eligibility for protection, but this approach is contradictory.
Starting from 2020, Human Rights Watch maintains that The growing impacts of the climate crisis require expanded international protection and inclusion Supplementary protectionThe threat of casualties from climate change Communities already at riskwhich may lead to Similar physical injuries and harm As other grounds of protection.
December 2023, International refugee Aid projects, refugee international, etc. Filed a brief in ongoing proceedings before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights On States’ obligations towards people displaced by climate change: The organizations argue that States have an obligation to protect people both before and after displacement occurs.
Although the United States is not bound by the Inter-American Court’s rulings, the court’s upcoming Consultation ruling Research on the human rights impacts of climate change will provide guidance for a rights-based approach to addressing this growing threat.
The United States should expand protections for people displaced by climate events and adopt the Cartagena Declaration’s broader definition of refugees to include people fleeing circumstances that cause severe social disruption, including extreme weather events exacerbated by the climate crisis.
The United States should also respect Principle of non-refoulement For those whose lives would be threatened if they returned to their country of origin due to extraordinary circumstances, such as the climate crisis. Congress should amend U.S. asylum law to extend protection to those who face a real risk of serious harm to their life or physical integrity in such circumstances, even if the perpetrator or persons causing the harm are not seeking to persecute them.
In addition, the United States should equitably address the root causes of climate change Fossil fuel transition.
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