Global Climate Change: Security Problems of Climate Refugees
Neslihan ArslanThroughout history, people have migrated from one place to other regions or countries for various reasons. Migrations occur in line with one’s wants in some cases, while in other cases the individual migrates out of necessity. Climate refugees are one of the rising concepts in the migration literature in recent years and have also found their place in studies as a different type of migration. Global climate change can be a determinant in people’s preference for an alternative region due to the difficulties they experience in one area, such as lack of a safe water supply, access to natural resources, or shelter. Although climate refugees refer to people who have to relocate due to the negative effects of climatic conditions, refugees are seen as the focus of many legal, economic, political, and cultural problems in terms of the countries where they end up. This study has a theoretical basis and discusses the concepts of global climate change and climate refugees. The study evaluates the problems of security refugees face in terms of climate-related issues, legal status, and social life. In addition, the study includes within its scope the perspective of states and international legislation toward climate refugees.
Küresel İklim Değişikliği: İklim Mültecilerinin Güvenlik Sorunları
Neslihan ArslanTarih boyunca, insanlar farklı nedenlerden ötürü bulundukları yerlerden başka bölgelere ya da ülkelere göç etmişlerdir. Göçler bireyin isteği doğrultusunda gerçekleştiği gibi bazı durumlarda birey hareketliliği zorunlu olarak gerçekleşmektedir. Son yıllarda göç literatüründe giderek yükselen kavramlardan biri olan iklim mülteciliği de göçün farklı bir türü olarak çalışmalarda yerini bulmaktadır. Küresel iklim değişikliği, insanların yaşam alanlarında güvenli su temini, doğal kaynaklara erişim ve barınma gibi konularda yaşadıkları zorluklar nedeniyle alternatif bölgeleri tercih etmelerinde belirleyici olabilmektedir. İklim mültecileri iklim koşullarının olumsuz etkisi nedeniyle yer değiştirmek durumunda kalan insanları ifade etmekle birlikte, mülteciler göç ettikleri ülkeler açısından yasal, ekonomik, siyasi, kültürel pek çok sorunun odağı olarak görülmektedir. Teorik bir zemin üzerine kurulu olan bu çalışmada küresel iklim değişikliği ve iklim mülteciliği kavramları ele alınmakta; mültecilerin karşılaştıkları güvenlik sorunları iklim değişikliği, yasal statü ve toplumsal hayat yönüyle değerlendirilmektedir. Ayrıca devletlerin ve uluslararası mevzuatın iklim mültecilerine yönelik bakışına çalışma kapsamında yer verilmiştir.
Global climate change has been known to occur as a climate phenomenon for many years and has had an increasing effect, especially in recent years. When considering that human behaviors also lead toward the destruction of nature, extensive degradation is seen to occurs in the climate and ecology as a result of global climate change, and this condition brings many deficits to the agenda in terms of the diversity of living things and the preservation of atmospheric balance. Climate-related phenomena may result from many different geological, technological, and biophysical factors and may also present different results in different countries. In fact, these problems may vary based on human characteristics (e.g., age, gender, race).
Climate migration is an important concept that has emerged in discussions centered on global climate change. Climate migration as a concept refers to the condition of individuals who willingly choose or have to leave their country or region for climate-related reasons and go to a different region or country other than their own. The literature is seen to prefer concepts such as environmental refugees and climate refugees for referring to these people, and a drawback is present pertaining to states’ use of these concepts.
Although climate-centered subjects started coming to the agenda during the Industrial Revolution, these effects really started to stand out in the 20th century. The inclusion of the human factor in the coverage of environmental problems has demonstrated the fact that the problem is not only caused by climate. Climate change appears to be limited to certain regions, but a gradual increase in environmental problems has been occurring, and the severity of this witnessed change has intensified through natural disasters. Such a change fundamentally affects human lives. Migration cases have occurred on various continents as climatic conditions have changed, with people moving to different places. For example, the communities on the Pacific islands have moved to inner areas due to the erosion of coastal regions and fishermen have immigrated to other cities in Asia due to violent storms and ocean acid levels. These examples as well as the domestic migrations in Middle Asia due to climatic causes are among the communal reflections of the change being experienced.
Climate refugees face many problems in terms of security. At the forefront of these problems is the climate-related security problem. Relocation that occurs due to climate change can take place between regions and even between countries. The most important of the security-related problems occurring due to climate involve food safety, food problems, and disease. When considering that the lack of adequate precautions may cause wars, disputes, and conflict-sourced crises and tensions, the climate refugee problem is known to not be able to be restricted to just one region; the present problem is a general problem for all humankind and constitutes a global threat.
Climate refugees also face security problems due to their lack of legal status. Although these refugees face a change of place due to climate, the problem has different political, economic, cultural, and other aspects for different states. Another dimension of the climate refugee problem is their inclusion in temporary protection orders. This condition presents the point of view that focuses on how human rights should be extended to the issue in order to solve the present problem.
Another aspect of the security problems climate refugees face is related to social life. Immigrating individuals have the aim of embracing life in their new location. The success refugees have in the phases of adapting in terms of this basic vital aim is related to the opportunities their immigration provides them. Refugees enter into a process that demands they act in accordance with different factors that cover life, social environment, and culture. Factors such as gender, age, and time it takes to adapt to the new culture can also be mentioned among the subjects that affect their ability to adapt.
States’ perspectives toward climate migration are also draw attention. Although the prohibition against sending refugees back has the tendency to expand to cover climate-centered individuals, an uncertainty exists in this regard. This is due to the fact that states regard environmental rights as a third-generation human right. Thus, states’ investments in protecting their borders and security are at a much higher level than their investments to protect against climate change.
Although the climate immigration problem seems to be a climate-based problem, this study covers different aspects of the problem and evaluates the status of individuals who’ve voluntarily or mandatorily left their regions and also evaluates the issue both in terms of refugees and states. The study has a theoretical basis. While dealing with global climate change, climate refugees, and the security problems refugees face, the need is also seen to examine issues such as the climate change-based security problem, the security problem experienced by climate refugees in terms of their legal status, and the security problem regarding social life. From this point of view, although climate immigration has started as a result of climate change, headings such as settlement, recognition, and discrimination demonstrate that immigration needs to be evaluated in expanding and diversified backgrounds. The approaches international regulations and states take toward climate immigration also present the fact that refugees will continue to be discussed in the international arena well into the future.
