The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
UN expert calls for full legal protection for people displaced by climate change
“The effects of climate change are becoming more severe, and the number of people displaced across international borders is rapidly increasing,” said Ian Fry, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the context of climate change.
“In 2020 alone, 30.7 million people were displaced from their homes due to weather-related events. Droughts were the main factor,” Fry said in his latest in his latest thematic report to the Human Rights Council. “We must take immediate steps to give legal protection to these people.”
The Special Rapporteur said that people displaced by climate change face multiple human rights violations including of their rights to food, water, sanitation, housing, health, education and, for some, their right to life.
“The human rights implications of climate change displacement, in particular across international borders, are significant and truly disturbing,” the expert said.
He called it “profoundly worrying” that large numbers of people displaced across borders die or go missing every year at both land and sea borders. More than 50,000 lost their lives during migratory movements between 2014 and 2022, Fry’s report said.
“It is equally shocking to note that more than half of those deaths occurred on routes to and within Europe, including in the Mediterranean Sea,” he said.
According to the Special Rapporteur, displacement due to climate change can result from different types of situations, from sudden to slow progressing events like sea level rise or droughts. Most people affected by these events are forced to move. Women and children being the most impacted by disasters and the effects of climate change, also make up for the majority of displaced people.
“The international community must realise its responsibility to protect people displaced across borders by climate change impacts,” the expert said.
Fry explained that the world was not operating in a total vacuum in terms of legal protection of people displaced due to climate change. He said there were several international human rights safeguards to address the issue.
“The Human Rights Council should prepare a resolution for submission to the UN General Assembly urging the body to develop an optional protocol under the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees to address displacement and legal protection for people all over the world affected by the climate crisis,” the expert said.
“Until then, I urge all nations to develop national legislation to provide humanitarian visas for persons displaced across international borders due to climate change, as an interim measure,” he said.
ENDS
Statement of Ian Fry, Special Rapporteur on climate change at the Human Rights Council 53rd session in Geneva, on 27 of June 2023.
“The effects of climate change are becoming more severe, and the number of people displaced across international borders is rapidly increasing,” said Ian Fry, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the context of climate change.
“In 2020 alone, 30.7 million people were displaced from their homes due to weather-related events. Droughts were the main factor,” Fry said in his latest in his latest thematic report to the Human Rights Council. “We must take immediate steps to give legal protection to these people.”
“The human rights implications of climate change displacement, in particular across international borders, are significant and truly disturbing."
“It is equally shocking to note that more than half of those deaths occurred on routes to and within Europe, including in the Mediterranean Sea."
“The international community must realise its responsibility to protect people displaced across borders by climate change impacts.”
“The Human Rights Council should prepare a resolution for submission to the UN General Assembly urging the body to develop an optional protocol under the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees to address displacement and legal protection for people all over the world affected by the climate crisis."
“Until then, I urge all nations to develop national legislation to provide humanitarian visas for persons displaced across international borders due to climate change, as an interim measure.”
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Statements , Conferences | HRC
The Human Rights is holding an Urgent debate to “discuss the recent military aggression launched by Israel against the State of Qatar on 9 September 2025”.
1
1
2
Statements | UNOG
Haut-Commissaire des Nations Unies aux droits de l'homme, Volker Türk - Dialogue interactif renforcé sur la République démocratique du Congo, 60e session du Conseil des droits de l'homme
1
1
1
Statements , Conferences | HRC
Interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights in the Sudan.
1
2
1
Statements , Conferences | HRC
"Women and girls face extreme forms of gender-based discrimination and oppression that amount to systematic gender persecution", said UN deputy rights chief at the enhanced interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan.
1
2
1
Statements , Conferences | HRC
"Government in Sri Lanka needs decisive action on justice and accountability, essential to forging a future of healing, reconciliation and sustainable peace," says UN rights chief at the interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights in the country.
1
3
1
Statements , Conferences | HRC
UN rights chief condemns escalation of persecution of the Muslim Rohingya minority in Rakhine State at the enhanced interactive dialogue on the situation of human rights in the country.
1
2
1
Statements , Conferences | HRC , UNOG
“We need to safeguard eighty years of progress on freedom, equality and justice”, said Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights at the opening of the 60th UN Human Rights Council session.
3
36
1
2
Edited News , Statements , Images , Conferences | HRC , OCHA , UNOG
A record 383 aid workers were killed last year with hundreds more wounded, kidnapped and detained, the UN’s top aid official said on Tuesday in a call for accountability, at a solemn ceremony in Geneva to mark World Humanitarian Day.
1
1
1
Press Conferences , Statements | UNEP
After 10 days of UN talks on plastic pollution, no consensus was reached; negotiations to continue.
1
1
1
Statements , Press Conferences | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani at the Geneva press briefing in response to questions about US sanctions imposed on UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese.
1
1
1
Statements , Conferences | HRC
Interactive dialogue on oral presentation of the High Commissioner on Ukraine and interim report of the Secretary-General on human rights on Crimea
1
1
1
Statements , Conferences | HRC
Interactive dialogue with Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967