Tracing the Impact of Climate Change through Refugee Camps and Migration

Abstract:

Climate change is adversely impacting people's lives, forcibly displacing over 20 million people by weather-related events. The U.N. Environment Program defines climate refugees as people forced to leave their homes because of climate disasters.  But climate refugees do not easily fit into standard definitions of refugees. They may face deportation and other challenges because they cannot find the same legal protections for their human rights. This poster will explore the geography of climate refugees through an analysis of three camps around the world with a focus on their locations, environmental context, history, populations, and conditions at the camps. The methods used in this study include mapping, numerical analysis of climate data and refugee camp location statistics, analysis of United Nations policies, and an environmental assessment of camp locations.  This presentation provides a snapshot of the evolving challenges of the climate crisis and its impact on displaced populations and their host countries around the world. This research will be useful for geographers, demographers, climate scholars, and international relations teams.  

Keywords: Climate Change, Refugees, United Nations

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