Fellow Story

Bustos applies human rights approach to climate-induced displacement

Camila Bustos’ recent article, A Human Rights Approach To Climate Induced Displacement: A Case Study In Central America And Colombia, draws from two case studies to highlight the human rights obligations of nations and the international community toward individuals facing climate-induced displacement. 

Abstract: 

The past decade was the warmest decade ever recorded. As climate impacts intensify, numbers of people displaced and in need of relocation increase. International law has yet to adapt to a changing climate and its implications for those most vulnerable. Experts still debate whether the existing refugee regime could provide a solution for those displaced by climate across international borders, while national governments continue to reckon with the domestic implications of internal displacement fueled by climate impacts. In this article, we apply a human rights lens to climate induced displacement, drawing from two case studies to highlight the human rights obligations of the national governments and the international community towards individuals facing climate-induced displacement across and within borders. We explore the plight of communities in the Northern Triangle of Central America and Raizal communities in the island of Providencia, Colombia to understand and address current protection gaps in international and domestic frameworks with respect to climate-induced displacement.

Citation: 

C. Bustos, J. Vélez-Echeverri. A Human Rights Approach to Climate-Induced Displacement: A Case Study in Central America and Colombia, Michigan State International Law Review, Volume 31.3, 2023, ISSN 2328-3068, https://doi.org/10.17613/0drz-rt61