Climate change is forcing people to flee their homes. But when does someone become a climate migrant, and what does the status mean? Dina Ionesco from the International Organization for Migration, explains.
Global Ideas: Ms. Ionesco, a man named Ioane Teitota from the island of Kiribati has sparked a global debate because he’s the first person ever to seek asylum for his family as climate refugees. He says his family has no future in their country because of rising water levels. Now, New Zealand has to decide whether to grant him asylum in a landmark case. You work for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), one of the most important global aid groups for migrants. Would the IOM recognize Ioane Teitota as a climate refugee?
Dina Ionesco: New Zealand will have to decide based on the case. It’s the prerogative of the state to decide what is considered a reason to grant asylum. Our organization is only there to offer a platform for countries to discuss issues and also to work together to innovative solutions and bring things to the agenda.
We, at the IOM don’t use the 'climate refugee’ terminology because it’s not directly in the Geneva Convention which officially lays down when somebody is recognized as a refugee. It would be an interpretation and we can’t do that. What matters for us is that in a case like this, the rights of a person are recognized, that the best solution is found for the rights of the migrant. Refugee is a term from the Geneva Convention that has to show persecution for gender, for religion, for conflict, war - it’s very specific.
Still, the IOM does make clear that climate change can be a driver of migration. Your member states agreed back in 2007 to use the term 'environmental migrant’ right?
Yes, this definition is the result of 20 years of hard work. It’s now used often in the international debate but it’s also criticized a lot. The definition emerged in the run-up to the climate conference in Copenhagen at a time when awareness was growing in the IOM about the impact of the environment and climate on migration patterns. At the same time, the worsening of environmental conditions due to climate change was becoming more apparent.
Who does the IOM consider to be an environmental migrant?
The most common reason why people leave their homes because of environmental factors is floods and droughts as well as changes in precipitation patterns. Our definition includes all kinds of migration caused by changes in climatic conditions – both due to acute natural disasters or because of a slow worsening of environmental conditions, for example, soil and ground degradation. The important thing about our approach is that we see 'climate refugees’ as those who flee from pressing, immediate dangers as well as those who decide to leave their homes voluntarily.
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