Topic

Environment & resources

The international refugee regime excludes conflicts and displacement not directly related to politics of conflict and persecution; millions of people are being displaced because of the intersection of environment and resource management in the broadest sense. Environmental degradation because of climate change and desertification has been much discussed but they are far from the only causes of displacement. Other relevant situations include policies on fish populations or oil reserves outside African coastlines as well as violent struggles and ensuing displacement related to resource extraction and mining activities in for instance the Philippines and Latin America. These processes around environmental degradation and natural resource management are intimately related to human rights abuses and displacement.