When Home Becomes Uninhabitable: The Unfolding Crisis of Climate Displacement
Written by: Ailin Bogers
Edited by: Gianna Hector
When your home is battered by the wind and the rising sea is right at your doorstep, you have no option but to leave. For an increasing number of people around the world, this is a materialising reality. As the climate crisis intensifies, extreme weather events are becoming increasingly devastating, forcing people to flee their homes in search of safety and new means to support their livelihoods. In 2022, more than half of the internal displacements were triggered by climate-related disasters. By 2050, it is predicted that the climate crisis could displace more than 1.2 billion people globally. Despite the magnitude of this displacement crisis, the people affected, referred to as “climate refugees”, are largely ignored.
Photo by Ahmed akacha from Pexels
Why “Climate Refugees” are the World’s Forgotten Victims
While most of us understand the term “climate refugee” to describe those displaced by environmental degradation and climate-related disasters, it is not an accurate marker of their status. According to the 1951 Refugee Convention, a refugee is “a person who crosses international borders due to a well-grounded fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion”. By this definition, it is clear why “climate refugees” are not formally recognised by international law. Furthermore, most individuals fleeing environmental degradation are displaced internally within their country. Hence, the UNHCR does not endorse the term “climate refugee”, arguing for more accurate alternatives such as “climate migrant”. As a result, the majority of these individuals are left without the protection and rights granted to refugees fleeing conflict and persecution, exacerbating their already vulnerable situations.
The Present: An Unfolding Crisis
As we observe a growing trend of climate displacement and migration over the last few decades, the reality is that the climate crisis is rarely the sole reason why people migrate. Instead, the climate crisis is a “threat multiplier”, meaning it often interacts with and magnifies the impact of other factors such as poverty, dwindling resources and loss of livelihood. This complex interaction of environmental and socio-political factors is the primary reason why it is challenging to clarify a definition for “climate refugee”.
Moreover, the impacts of the climate crisis disproportionately affect communities that are already vulnerable. For example, Bangladesh faces serious threats from rising sea levels and flooding: many of its coastal communities have been forced to migrate to urban areas, losing their livelihoods. For a country that is already hosting almost 1 million refugees from Myanmar, the climate impacts exacerbate existing pressures on the country’s infrastructures, jobs and resources, foreshadowing an impending humanitarian crisis if not urgently addressed. It has been clear from recent events that communities in the Global South are hit the hardest by the climate crisis, despite contributing very little to causing it, and it is predicted that the majority of climate migrants will come from countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. However, the crisis will not be confined to these parts of the world, as we see people already displaced in places like California and parts of Europe due to record-breaking wildfires and flooding.
Image from “No escape: On the frontlines of climate change, conflict and forced displacement”, representing the links between conflict, climate change and forced displacement.
The Future: Where Do You Go When Your Home Becomes Uninhabitable?
When you leave your home because its environment can no longer sustain you, it is a human instinct to choose to stay as close to home as possible. As mentioned previously, most climate migrants either remain within their country’s borders or migrate to neighbouring countries. However, without an internationally recognised framework of response, this pattern of migration can mean that these individuals remain vulnerable to future climate risks and humanitarian crises.
Recently, the world’s first “climate visas” were offered by Australia to citizens of Tuvalu, a Pacific island nation threatened by rising sea levels. The two signed a historic agreement in which Australia pledges to commit itself to defend Tuvalu in the event of natural disasters, health pandemics and military aggression. This story highlights the possibility and importance of bilateral agreements for addressing the unfolding crisis of climate displacement. In the face of the climate crisis and the degradation of one’s home, a “climate visa” can symbolise mobility and dignity.
With so many people around the world already displaced by severe weather events, it is imperative to establish a legal international framework that protects and acknowledges those who are impacted. First, the 1951 Refugee Convention should include those displaced by climate-related disasters and environmental degradation in the definition of a “refugee”. Additionally, a framework should be established to facilitate individual countries' response to internally displaced populations, who represent a huge proportion of climate migrants. The inclusion of displaced communities in discussions and decision-making is also critical for designing effective solutions to the global crisis.
All of this requires the international community to step up and take responsibility towards collaboratively addressing this global crisis. Today’s political climate embodies increasingly hostile attitudes towards immigration, and wealthier nations are reluctant to accept refugees due to economic costs, all of which make collaborative efforts to recognise and protect climate migrants seem impossible. Nevertheless, it is an important step towards safeguarding a resilient future for us all. That said, we must not forget the importance of tackling the climate crisis at its root and remain committed to climate adaptation. The fight is not over, and every action, small or big, individual or collective, will help us stay connected to this home, to this planet, the only home that is habitable for us.
References
Concern Worldwide (2024). Climate refugees: The world’s forgotten displacement crisis. [online] Concern Worldwide. Available at: https://www.concern.net/news/climate-refugees-explained.
Guardian staff reporter (2025). Nearly a third of Tuvalu citizens enter ballot for climate-linked visa to relocate to Australia. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/26/nearly-a-third-of-tuvalu-citizens-enter-ballot-for-climate-linked-visa-to-relocate-to-australia.
Ida, T. (2021). Climate refugees – the world’s forgotten victims. [online] World Economic Forum. Available at: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2021/06/climate-refugees-the-world-s-forgotten-victims/.
James, B. (2024). 10 Stories of Climate Refugees: The Real Faces of a Global Crisis | What is Green Living? [online] What is Green Living? Available at: https://whatisgreenliving.com/examples-and-stories-of-climate-refugees/.
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Singal, S.(2025). Stateless in a sinking world: the untold plight of climate refugees. LSE Human Rights. [online] Available at: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/humanrights/2025/01/23/stateless-in-a-sinking-world-the-untold-plight-of-climate-refugees/.
UNHCR (2024), No escape: On the frontlines of climate change, conflict and forced displacement. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. [Online] Available at: https://www.unhcr.org/media/no-escape-frontlines-climate-change-conflict-and-forced-displacement