Asylum in a climate-changed world: Bridging the protection gap in the EU

The briefing examines the lack of legal recognition for 'climate refugees' in international law and the EU's asylum system, highlighting how current frameworks often classify such individuals as voluntary or economic migrants. It advocates for a holistic, human-rights-based approach that integrates climate, development, and migration policies, suggesting the use of humanitarian visas and flexible legal labor channels as potential solutions. The author emphasizes the role of the UN Global Compacts and the potential for the Greens in the European Parliament to push for these reforms despite political divisions and a Commission focus on border security.

• There is a significant legal protection gap because the term 'climate refugee' is not recognized in international law; the 1951 Geneva Convention limits the definition of a refugee to those fleeing persecution based on race, religion, nationality, social group, or political opinion.
• Under current legal provisions, individuals moving due to long-term climate threats are often categorized as voluntary or economic migrants, while those fleeing sudden disasters typically only receive short-term humanitarian aid rather than long-term support.
• Climate migration is deeply linked to poverty, as the poorest populations in countries with the fewest adaptation resources are most likely to live in high-risk zones, such as erosion-prone riverbanks.
• The UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration identifies climate change as a migration driver and suggests international cooperation for planning and supporting adaptation in developing countries to prevent forced displacement.
• The European Commission's current focus on border procedures, 'safe third countries', and detention-based assessments is viewed as a short-sighted approach that diverts attention from the need for long-term legal migration channels for climate-displaced people.
• Potential solutions to bridge the protection gap include the establishment of humanitarian visas, temporary protection, authorization to stay, and the creation of flexible legal labor migration channels for workers and their families.
• The Lisbon Treaty is cited as providing a sufficient mandate for the EU to revise its asylum and migration policies to include those forced to migrate due to climate change.

APA

Manieri, M. G. (2020). Asylum in a climate-changed world: Bridging the protection gap in the EU. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/asylum-in-a-climate-changed-world-bridging-the-protection-gap-in-the-eu/

Chicago

Manieri, Maria Giovanna. Asylum in a climate-changed world: Bridging the protection gap in the EU. Green European Journal, 2020. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/asylum-in-a-climate-changed-world-bridging-the-protection-gap-in-the-eu/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Manieri |first1=Maria Giovanna |title=Asylum in a climate-changed world: Bridging the protection gap in the EU |publisher=Green European Journal |date=1 January 2020 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/asylum-in-a-climate-changed-world-bridging-the-protection-gap-in-the-eu/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{manieri2020asylum, author = {Manieri, Maria Giovanna}, title = {{Asylum in a climate-changed world: Bridging the protection gap in the EU}}, institution = {Green European Journal}, year = {2020}, month = jan, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/asylum-in-a-climate-changed-world-bridging-the-protection-gap-in-the-eu/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }