CHALLENGES FOR THE CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND THE RULE OF LAW: IS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DOING ITS BEST FOR THE PROTECTION OF CLIMATE MIGRANTS?

Authors

  • Melita Carević University of Zagreb, Faculty of Law
  • Rutvica Rusan Novokmet University of Zagreb, Faculty of Law

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30925/zpfsr.42.3.1

Keywords:

climate migration; international refugee law; Teitiota case; rule of law; populism.

Abstract

This paper explores the current level of legal protection of climate migrants in international and European Union law and the repercussions that the present approach might have on the rule of law. It first analyses whether the current binding instruments of refugee and climate change law offer any protection for climate migrants and identifies a legal gap in this regard. It then briefly addresses the progress made by recently adopted soft law instruments and the UN Human Rights Committee decision in the Teitiota case, at the same time pointing out that the latter decision has set criteria which might jeopardise the realisation of the non-refoulement right which it aims to guarantee. The paper then analyses the literature on the link of climate change and migration, using the example of the Syrian civil war, the rise of anti-immigration populism which subsequently occurred, as well as the threat that such movements might pose for the rule of law. The authors conclude that the planned and systematic response of the international community to climate migration and continued good regional and bilateral practices are more likely to prevent sudden spikes in mass migration which could lead to anti-immigration populist movements.

Additional Files

Published

2022-02-16 — Updated on 2023-12-15

Versions

How to Cite

Carević, M., & Rusan Novokmet, R. (2023). CHALLENGES FOR THE CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND THE RULE OF LAW: IS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DOING ITS BEST FOR THE PROTECTION OF CLIMATE MIGRANTS?. Collected Papers of the Law Faculty of the University of Rijeka, 42(3), 591–611. https://doi.org/10.30925/zpfsr.42.3.1 (Original work published February 16, 2022)