International migration opportunities as post-disaster humanitarian intervention

Abstract

The frequency and intensity of natural disasters from climate events have been increasing in the last few years. While scientists are careful in causally linking these natural disasters to climate change, the record-breaking extreme climate events such as typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines speak for itself. Formerly a laggard in climate talks, adaptation has now gained footing not just in the UNFCCC but also among different countries. Decision 1/CP.16 also known as The Cancun Agreements invites all parties to the UNFCCC to enhance action on adaptation and undertake measures with regard to climate change induced displacement and migration. It is exactly this COP decision, which motivated the governments of Norway and Switzerland to establish the Nansen Initiative and craft a protection agenda for people who are at risk of disaster-induced cross-border displacement. Despite these efforts, there has yet to be a legally binding migration treaty that climate change victims can invoke. In this paper, we will look into the feasibility of immigration opportunities as humanitarian aid for victims of extreme climate events. Inspired by US and Canada immigration relief measures for typhoon Haiyan victims in the Philippines, we use a socio-political approach in constructing an immigration humanitarian model, which we would like to recommend as a potential humanitarian intervention after climate disasters. This recommendation is not only intended to address UNFCCC’s Decision 2/CP.19 (the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage) but to also provoke ambition and compassion from countries that are historically responsible for climate change.