LETTER FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL

What an honor to welcome you to this edition.

For me, MOVENU 2022 is one of the last steps to conclude my MUN journey, and it is the culmination of a cycle
that I began in 2016, as a 17-year-old. During that edition, I remember hearing the Secretary General’s opening
speech and being surrounded by comments about her, from criticism to admiration; it was then the first time I
wondered how it would feel to be standing on that podium.

Throughout my path to this point, I experienced several situations that progressively generated aversion, doubt,
and resistance towards occupying this role. I have come to realized that it is normal, for becoming an adult
constantly subjected to competition and the pursuit of excellence is not easy on anyone. To all of you
contemporary with me, congratulations, we are getting there; and for all the younger ones that have just
recently taken the decision to embark on this road, congratulations for taking on the challenge.

My intention with these words is to remind you of how interconnected all of our lives are. In 2016, personally,
to become someone like Mani simply seemed unachievable. 6 years later (4 of which, I have had the honor to
be part of MOVENU), not only have I shared spaces with her, but I have also laughed and received advice from
Claudia, Margarito and, unsurprisingly, specially from Tita.

This year, I have connected with a wonderful team, not only loved by us, but by many of the spheres they have
chosen to partake in. They awake a sense of respect and admiration through their work and their leadership
qualities. In 2022, I have also earned a friend that I share more than my initials with, through these last months
she has supported and motivated me to use my doubts (as SG and in my day-to-day life) as a tool to grow into
the person that, maybe, some of you perceive me as.

This letter is a note of gratitude towards everyone that composes MOVENU, but also to the institutions that
have molded me; now conformed and defended by you. This year’s circuit has left me speechless and, I am
quite sorry to say, surely this conference will not be easy on you. What actually makes me proud, however, is
that you will see firsthand the group of people that might become your co-workers and/or dear friends; and
experiment what already bounds us together: a passion for being daring, self-confidence, and the
accomplishment of true excellence.

Now more than ever, at our relatively short ages, the country is offering us opportunities where these qualities
are more than a virtue, they are a requirement. MOVENU, as an event, is a little test drive for you and its staff
to see how it feels and how it looks to have those skills in real life, and the benefit brought upon by the effort
to achieve them. Welcome and, at times of stress, just remember: this institution is the only one that belongs
in the journey of every single delegation that has brought home an immeasurable number of gavels and plenty
of plaques; by participating on it and giving your all, you have already covered one of the toughest steps that
these previous generations have taken before you.

I cannot wait to see you and I am at your service for whatever you need.

With love,

Camila Colmenares
Secretary General – MOVENU 2022
LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR GENERAL
Dear delegates,

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Nineteenth Edition of the Venezuelan Model United Nations. A
few days before our conference, it is very special for me to be able to extend these words to you after so many
months of hard work to see our event materialize, and which we hope you will enjoy and take full advantage
of.

The truth is that MOVENU for me has been a unique space of connection with many people who left a
mark on me forever, and which I have always described as home. Despite having joined the institution in 2019,
without even having experience in MUN during university, MOVENU opened its doors for me and taught me
many, many things that have made me a better person. Therefore, at the beginning of this management
alongside Cami —with whom I have shared many things and I am grateful to have by my side in this—, it was a
huge challenge to continue the legacy of the institution after the great work done by Tita and Yako, whom I
admire immensely, have always been present and willing to help us in this process, and who I am pleased to
be able to call amazing friends.

Likewise, this project would not have been possible without the constant support of 6 very special
people: Isabel, Cleo, Wilson, Josmer, Raquel, and Isabel. I am sure that each of their committees has a little
piece of their ideas, dreams, and expectations, which were transferred to their Daises and allowed that these
study guides that we present to you, have been elaborated with love and dedication, also hoping that you will
take advantage of them for your academic preparation. To my logistic coordinators, Leyci, Lisandro, Pedro,
Valeria, Verónica, Freddy and Isabella, your constant support has been very important for everything ahead of
us; the love we share for MOVENU is what has made this possible, and for that I am immensely grateful.

Something characteristic of MOVENU is the interest to work and to do things well, which allows me to
affirm with all certainty that our team of coordinators and Daises possesses these qualities, which fills me with
great pride. I am also very excited and hopeful that after this conference, you will also be encouraged to be
part of this family that will always be there for you during good times and bad, to teach you new things and
also to laugh a lot.

A recommendation I can give you for this edition of MOVENU is to think about what you would like to
achieve. If you want to give more speeches, be better negotiators, more conciliators, or even if you want to be
better colleagues/co-delegates. You can also define what you would like to learn from others (your co-
delegates, your Daises, or authorities). During my journey in MUN (which is soon to end) I learned that working
with small goals allowed me to be more consistent and disciplined, so I could better measure my progress
towards where I wanted to go. In this opportunity, I share this secret with you so that you can try it, and perhaps
set a before and after within yourself, and leave a nice memory in someone else’s MUN experience.

As I already told you, MOVENU is a safe space to create new friendships, reconnect with others, and
learn a lot from valuable experiences. Take advantage of it while you can and I assure you that you will have
an unforgettable weekend, just as I did. See you in a bit!

Carla Castillo
Director General – MOVENU 2022
LETTER FROM THE UNDER-SECRETARY
GENERAL
Dear delegates,

It is an honor for me to welcome you to the Economic and Social Committees in this edition of
MOVENU. I’m Wilson Palma, I have a degree in International Trade from the Simón Bolívar University,
I have been part of USBLAMUN for 4 years ago serving as a delegate, Head Delegate and currently I
am Faculty Advisor. On my way through MOVENU I have had the opportunity to be part of the ECOSOCs
and Crisis coordination, both as a delegate and Dais.

This year, alongside an incredible team made up of 7 people from different universities and
careers, I have the responsibility of leading the most academic committees of MOVENU. Andrea,
Giancarlo, Bárbara, Antonio, Erick, José and Lía, oversee materializing and developing the work of their
respective committees during the 4 days of the conference, and I can assure you that there are no
more qualified people to guide and evaluate said committees than them. I take advantage of this
letter to thank my team for the great work they have done to give you delegates the best experience
in this edition of MOVENU 2022.

The ECOSOC for this year has as main axis two themes that emerge to the world. Firstly, climate
change and displacement. Currently it is observed how global warming has undermined the growth of
a set of phenomena such as drought, fires, and rising sea levels, which has generated forced migration
for thousands of citizens. On the other hand, we have sustainable trade as an alternative that allows
us to stabilize the activity that encompasses more than 30% of the world economy, international trade;
the latter will be debated through pillars that comprise sustainability: society, the economy, and the
environment. In this sense, both issues will be addressed by two of the most important international
organizations in the world, UNHCR and WTO.

Delegates, not everyone understands Model United Nations, but those of us who do know that
it is a very satisfying and rewarding experience. This year you have the responsibility of creating
solutions that are applied realistically, facing two problems that affect the world and contemplate
different edges.

In this sense, I invite you to leave your mark on MOVENU 2022 and be part of the positive change
that our country and the world needs. As Under-Secretary General, I have high expectations of your
performance and preparation, hoping that conference days are enriching for everyone.

Welcome to the ECOSOCs!

Wilson Palma
Under-Secretary General for the Economic and Social Committees
LETTER FROM THE DAIS
Delegates,

It is our pleasure to welcome you to MOVENU’s 2022 United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees, and the third edition of MOVENU’s participation in the UNHCR MUN Refugee Challenge. In
this committee, your Draft Resolution will be evaluated by a jury of UNHCR members to choose which
idea should be shared with policymakers. This is a unique opportunity to have real impact beyond
MUN, with the chance to have a positive influence in someone’s life. Alongside this guide, which we
have prepared with the hope that it suffices for your preparation process, you will have the MUN
Refugee Challenge Background Guide which will be essential for your preparation and debate. It is the
cornerstone of the committee, and we exhort you to read it thoroughly. That said, strategic policy
research is also highly encouraged for you to take the most out of this experience to prepare for your
respective conferences.

Regarding your Dais, you will have a pretty diverse panel of judges similar to what you may face
abroad. Firstly, your President will be Andrea Salima, a Law student with a minor in Corporate Finance
from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, who was a member of UCAB-HNMUN for three years. Andrea
is very structured, passionate about her career and for this topic particularly. Then, your Vice-
Presidents will be Antonio Morillo, Lia Oramas and José Daporta. Antonio is a medicine student from
Universidad Central de Venezuela and was a member of UCV-HNMUN for three years. Antonio will
always find a way for things to have a solid theoretic and logical base, while also being interested in
how to grant access to health wherever he can. José is an Economics student from Universidad Católica
Andrés Bello and was a member of NMUN UCAB for three years. He usually tries to quantify every
hardship he faces giving it a very economic approach, if possible. Finally, Lia is an International
Relations student who was a member of LAMUN UCV for two years, who looks for the intersection
between institutional viability, efficient and effective policymaking considering the economic, political
and social context of things.

For the sake of this Committee, we expect you to bring the best version of yourselves. We want
delegates to give special attention to the content and feasibility of the solutions, rather than
showmanship and trying to be in the spotlight just because. We expect you to study and bring a good
preparation for the Committee for a rich debate, healthy competition, and an amicable experience.
We look forward to your enthusiastic participation, and if you have any doubts, please do not hesitate
to contact us via movenu.unhcr22@gmail.com.

We look forward to meeting you all.

Best regards,

Andrea Salima, President

Antonio Morillo, Vicepresident
Lía Oramas, Vicepresident
José Daporta, Vicepresident
COMMITTEE HISTORY
As a result of the second World War, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(“UNHCR” so forth) was founded in 1950, with an initial lifespan of three years to address the refugee
crisis that arose in Europe in said decade. However, its mission quickly expanded to other countries
struck by conflict such as Austria and Algeria, as well as assisting African refugees during the 1960s,
whose mobilization was triggered by decolonization efforts across the continent. Due to the imperative
need that emerged worldwide for this organization, the 1951 Refugee Convention was drafted to
provide an initial legal framework to narrow down their scope, followed by the 1967 Protocol Relating
to the Status of Refugees to remove the geographical and temporary restrictions that it contained in
its beginnings.

The 1951 Refugee Convention establishes the subjects that are to be protected by it and who
can qualify as a refugee as follows:

“A. For the purposes of the present Convention, the term “refugee” shall apply to any person
who:

(1) Has been considered a refugee under the Arrangements of 12 May 1926 and 30 June
1928 or under the Conventions of 28 October 1933 and 10 February 1938, the Protocol of 14
September 1939 or the Constitution of the International Refugee Organization; Decisions of non-
eligibility taken by the International Refugee Organization during the period of its activities
shall not prevent the status of refugee being accorded to persons who fulfill the conditions of
paragraph 2 of this section;

(2) As a result of events occurring before 1 January 1951 and owing to well founded fear
of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social
group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to
such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a
nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such
events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it. In the case of a person who
has more than one nationality, the term “the country of his nationality” shall mean each of the
countries of which he is a national, and a person shall not be deemed to be lacking the
protection of the country of his nationality if, without any valid reason based on well-founded
fear, he has not availed himself of the protection of one of the countries of which he is a
national.” 1

With this, the UNHCR has been able to expand to 138 countries with an esteemed budget of 8.6
billion US dollars as of the year 2019. Since its beginning in 1951, it has helped over 50 million refugees
reestablish their lives in their receiving nations, only limited by its budget and lack of on-the-ground
resources and personnel.

astillo
COMMITTEE STRUCTURE
The UNHCR is a subsidiary body of the General Assembly (GA) and is governed by this same
organ of the United Nations alongside the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The High
Commissioner is the biggest authority of the UNHCR. This charge has been occupied by Filippo Grandi
since January 2016. This Officer is responsible for directing and controlling the agency and by
conducting its activities alongside the Deputy High Commissioner and the Assistant High
Commissioner for Protection and Operations, sending reports annually to the ECOSOC and General
Assembly on the UNHCR’s work.
In legal terms, the High Commissioner and
his Office form a multilateral, intergovernmental
institution, established by the GA as its subsidiary
organ through resolution 319 A (IV) of 3 December
1949, and provided with its Statute in resolution 428
(V) of 14 December 1950. The Statute stipulates that
the High Commissioner “acting under the authority
of the General Assembly, shall assume the function
of providing international protection … and of
seeking permanent solutions for the problem of
refugees.” In 2003, the General Assembly extended
this mandate “until the refugee problem is solved.” The 1951 Refugee Convention

Additionally, the High Commissioner’s refugee mandate is embedded in public international

law, and in particular international treaty law. States’ duty to cooperate with the High Commissioner
is explicitly mentioned in international and regional legal instruments for the protection of refugees,
notably the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol relating to the
Status of Refugees.

The Executive Committee, which is currently composed by 107 UN Member States, approves the
agency’s biennial programmes and budget, meets annually to review the financial requirements of the
organization, approves the annual programme target, adopts conclusions, and can take a wide range
of decisions, on administrative, financial, and procedural issues. It also examines the results of applied
programs and establishes a new programme of work for the Standing Committee, created by the
Executive Committee in 1995. As regards international protection, the role of the Executive Committee
is to advise the High Commissioner at his request.

The Standing Committee meets three times a year to review UNHCR’s global and regional
activities and programmes to examine thematic issues included in its programme of work, and to
adopt decisions and conclusions on specific issues of the UNHCR.
 Summing up, the 107-member UNHCR Executive
Committee approves the agency’s biennial programmes
and budget, which are presented by the High
Commissioner, who is appointed by the UN General
Assembly.

The UNHCR has a national and international staff

of more than 17.765 staff members working in 138
countries. Given its action-focused nature, most UNHCR
operations are done in the field. The worldwide
operation has become highly complex, ranging from the

recruitment and security of staff to guaranteeing to the best of its capacity everything from medical
supplies and bulk food shipments to aircraft charters. Specific departments, mostly based in the
Geneva headquarters, oversee key areas, such as operations, protection, external relations, human
resources, and finances. Several regional bureaux form a link between overseas offices and
headquarters. In the field, UNHCR’s work is conducted from regional offices, branch offices, sub-
offices, and field offices. The High Commissioner’s representatives lead operations in each country
where the agency is active, although there are also regional representatives.

Also, considering that situations involving individuals fleeing

their countries usually have a complex background as stated before, the
organism works with regional offices of the UN and other multinational
organizations, such as the World Food Programme (WFP), the World
Health Organization (WHO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), among
others. Furthermore, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) play a
key role in UNHCR’s work since they provide help and assistance to its
activities.

Lastly, regarding budgetary and administrative matters, the

Statute clarifies that administrative expenditures shall be borne by the
UN budget, while “all other activities” of the High Commissioner through
his Office are to be financed through voluntary contributions. The
Office’s budget and operational activities are guided by the Executive
Committee as well.2 3
POWERS OF COMMITTEE
The High Commissioner and his Office are aimed to be a global institution for refugees. They
are subsidiary bodies governed by the General Assembly (GA) and the Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC). Resolution 319 A (IV) of December 1949 defined the purpose and main functions of the High
Commissioner, and further on, through Resolution 428 (V) of 14 December 1950, the GA stipulated its
mandate, which has expanded ever since, adapting to the evolution of the refugee phenomenon,
mostly in terms of governance.

This agency was born as a multilateral intergovernmental organization, as it was established by

the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, specifically articles 35 and 36, meaning that
the governments are legally obligated to collaborate with the agency in its operations. The binding
nature of the agency allows it to act directly with States and involving “other specialized agencies”
according to paragraph 12 of the Statute, has allowed the High Commissioner and his Office to act in
all matters regarding the protection of refugees, through a global network of collaborators.

It is due to this configuration, that the UNHCR has become one of the most versatile subsidiary
bodies of the United Nations, developing projects with unique autonomy, having authority for
permanent solutions to be implemented to aid and protect refugees, returnees, and displaced people
internationally, in the economic, social, and legal aspects of their journey and integration to new
territories. The activities of the agency are therefore diverse, dynamic, and constantly evolving, as
indicated in the following:

“It acts as global cluster lead for protection and co-leadership in the area of camp
coordination/management and emergency shelter in respect of internally displaced persons.
UNHCR undertakes rule of law building activities in areas such as:

(1) Continuous development of international law;

(2) Promotion of ratification of and removal of reservations from relevant international and
regional treaties;
(3) Advocacy for and monitoring of the treatment and rights of persons of concern to UNHCR,
including interventions with host governments;
(4) Provision of technical, material, capacity-building and other support to national
legislative, administrative and judicial structures;
(5) Direct UNHCR protection and assistance measures, such as substitutive measures to meet
basic survival needs, or the conduct of registration and status determination procedures,
etc. They include preparation for resettlement as a means to address urgent (human
rights based) protection needs;
(6) Working in partnership with other UN rule of law actors to find solutions for protracted
displacement and statelessness situations and to contribute to their enjoyment of rights
through the Solutions Alliance thematic sub-group on the rule of law.”1
 displacement and statelessness situations and to contribute to their enjoyment of rights
through the Solutions Alliance thematic sub-group on the rule of law.” 4

SCOPE OF COMMITTEE
As your Dais, we consider it imperative and a
fundamental part of the preparation of all delegates, to
master the scope of the committee and to elaborate
practical and realistic ideas that are strictly adapted to the
functions of UNHCR. Furthermore, another key part that
will be evaluated on the solutions proposed by delegates,
will be the degree of innovation and impact that it may
have on the affected communities, while being feasible
and in accordance with the UNHCR Refugee Challenge’s
demands. We encourage delegates to always keep these
points in mind as they are essential to ensure a great
turnout for the Challenge.
UNHCR is mandated to “provide international protection and humanitarian assistance, and to
seek permanent solutions for persons within its core mandate responsibilities”. Due to the nature of
these functions, most UNHCR operations are on the field, conducted through regional offices, branch
offices, sub-offices, and field offices. Understanding how it operates, UNHCR depends on the
commitment and close cooperation of governments and has a history of more than 60 years
developing partnerships with member states, international agencies, and NGOs.

We expect delegates to be thorough and cautious with the solutions proposed during the
conference, specifically, they must be careful with proposing solutions that exclusively address
climate change and displacement, all while considering as the main focus or objective the scope of
this committee related to refugee welfare.

In one of the most recent meetings of the Standing Committee, the paper on Global programs,
inclusion and resilience (EC/72/SC/CRP.3) was presented, in which you can visualize an overview of
the international activities and programs developed during the context of the recent crises, as well as
the reasoning of how and why UNHCR addresses certain problems, how it obtains and manages its
resources, and how it creates alliances with organizations and governments to implement initiatives.
Reading these types of documents will give delegates a better perspective on the proper wording used
on documents and on these meetings, and how the clauses interconnect with programs and initiatives
that already exist and have already made a positive impact. Understanding the committee's past
actions and their results is key to developing new solutions that truly address the current needs and
problems.
TOPIC AREA: Climate Change and Displacement
History of the problem
Evolution of climate change

At some point in human history, climate change was considered a problem that would only be
experienced by future generations. Nevertheless, it is clear the world has only recently begun to
comprehend its effects. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report
demonstrates that the trend of greenhouse gas emissions continues to increase, with the ongoing
plans to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels failing to address this goal
adequately. It is important to note that developed countries are accountable for disproportionately
more carbon dioxide emissions than developing countries while developing countries experience the
greatest consequences5.

Even though climate has radically changed throughout history, the current warming trend is
unequivocally associated with the result of human activity since the mid-20th century and proceeding
at an unprecedented rate. The Earth’s average surface temperature has increased approximately 1.5°C
since the late 19th century, with the years 2016 and 2020 being the warmest years documented, and
most of the warming recorded over the past 40 years.

The world has seen a significant escalation in extreme weather events because of climate
change. Data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment demonstrates Greenland lost
between 1993-2019 an average of 279 billion tons of ice per year, and Antarctica nearly 148 billion tons
of ice per year. Glaciers are retreating all around the Earth. Global sea levels have risen roughly 20
centimeters in the last century. This rate, nonetheless, has almost doubled in the past two decades,
with destructive humanitarian repercussions for the most vulnerable communities6.

One of the greatest threats related to climate change is

the rising sea levels and how they affect low-lying and island
nations. Thermal expansion has severely aggravated due to
human-caused climate change, melting the world’s ice caps
and presenting a major problem for the world on a greater
scale. In larger nations, people can migrate within their own
countries, postponing the problem and evading the
consequences of flooding, but losing their homes and
generating millions of dollars in damage. This problem is
worse in low-lying island nations such as but not limited to
Tuvalu, Kiribati, Fiji, Palau and Micronesia. Some have lost
enough terrain to render almost entire nations of refugees
such as Tuvalu, causing mass migrations of people due to
losing land or access to freshwater and causing
conglomerations of issues. These have been tackled in a
mediocre manner with treaties such as the Paris Agreement, a
non-binding document that, self-regulates the benchmarks
for climate change prevention, and that has not stopped the
surpassing ofthe 1.5 Celcius mark that was established in this
such as Tuvalu, causing mass migrations of people due to losing land or access to freshwater and
causing conglomerations of issues. These have been tackled in a mediocre manner with treaties such
as the Paris Agreement, a non-binding document that, self-regulates the benchmarks for climate
change prevention, and that has not stopped the surpassing of the 1.5 Celsius mark that was
established in this legal instrument. Without the regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and rapid
ice sheet collapse, projections are that average sea level rise could be 2.2 meters (7.2 feet) by 2100 and
3.9 meters (13 feet) by 21507 8.

Displacement due to climate change throughout the years

Millions of people are directly affected every year due to weather-related events. According to
the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), the annual average of people displaced because
of storms, landslides, extreme temperatures, floods, and storms was at least 22.5 million people
between 2008 and 2014. These numbers can differ significantly as the outcome of the unpredictability
of large-scale disasters, capable of displacing millions of people at once. For example, in 2014 the 10
largest disasters displaced averaged from 500.000 to 3 million people each in the Philippines, China,
Japan, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, all associated with floods or storms.

There was a record high displacement of people caused by the impacts of disasters and climate
change in 2020, with about 31 million people displaced within their own borders attributable to climate
hazards. Finally, in 2021, there were 23.7 million new internal displacements globally because of
disasters, with vulnerable communities in developing countries six times more likely to be evacuated
than those in developed countries. Globally, over 84 million people were displaced out of their homes
only due to climatic causes, leaving these people unattended and with little to no international
protection9.

The World Bank estimates that by 2050, there will

be about 143 million climate-related migrants and
refugees. In the year 2017 alone, there were 68.5 million
people forcibly displaced by the consequences of climate
change, of which approximately one third had to move
suddenly (due to floods, forest fires, severe droughts, and
intensified storms). Similarly, in East Asia and the Pacific
and South Asia alone, there were around 30 million people
displaced by imminent climate-related hazards.
Lack of international recognition
Demands for international recognition by climate refugees: Case File
Teitiota vs. New Zealand
In 2013, Ioane Teitiota, a resident of Kiribati, applied for refugee status in New Zealand claiming
the risks to his life due to climate change forced him to leave his country. The Immigration and
Protection Tribunal rejected his application, and this decision was maintained after he tried to appeal
to the High Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court upheld the decision
that it was inadmissible for Teitiota as he did not face, if returned to his home country of Kiribati, he
faced "no serious harm or real risk" and that there was no conclusive evidence that the Kiribati
government was failing to protect its citizens. Having consumed his domestic remedies, Ioane filed a
communication with the Human Rights Committee (HRC) under the Optional Protocol, alleging that
New Zealand violated his right to life by forcibly sending him back to Kiribati.

On January 7, 2020, the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) delivered an unprecedented ruling
in which it acknowledged if a person is forcibly returned to a location where there is a potential risk
against their life because of the detrimental effects of climate change, it may pose a violation to the
Right to Life under Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). However,
the decision of the HRC concluded that even though it may be arduous for the people in Kiribati to
grow crops and access potable water, it is not beyond the bounds of possibility, hence, his deportation
to Kiribati was not a violation of article 6.

While Ioane Teitiota’s claims were

unsuccessful, this ruling can act as a
warning to States to consider the risks and
consequences of climate change when
judging asylum and refugee claims.
Consequently, it symbolizes a significant
jurisprudential advancement in the
safeguard of climate refugees under
international human rights law1. One of the
dissenting votes, by Duncan Laki
Muhumuza,
Muhumuza, considered
consideredthat thatthe
thedifficulty
difficultyin in accessing drinking water and the consequent health
accessing
complications drinking
should bewater and
sufficient the to conclude that the lives of Teitiota and his family were
evidence
consequent health complications should
being put at risk. He insists that the threshold to determine the risk that the person runs should not
be
be sufficient
so high orevidence
irrational,toand
conclude thatifthe
that even it were, the illnesses and deaths occurring in Kiribati due to
livespoor
the of Teitiota and hisoffamily
accessibility were
drinking being
water should be sufficient reason to defend the inviolability of
put at risk. He insists that the threshold to
human life. The other dissenting vote by Vasilka Sancin called for positive action to be taken to protect
determine
human life thefromrisk that disasters
natural the personand runs
climate hazards and calls the Committee's and New Zealand's
should
decision to return Ioane Teitiota toand
not be so high or irrational, that clearly arbitrary and wrong.
Kiribati
even if it were, the illnesses and deaths
occurring in Kiribati due to the poor
accessibility of drinking water should be
sufficient reason to defend the inviolability
of human life. The other dissenting vote by
Vasilka Sancin called for positive action to
 Purchase of land in foreign nations as an adaptation measure to
climate change
Refugees that qualify as such under the definition of the 1951 Refugee Convention, often, will
have the uncertain possibility of returning to their countries of origin. If not, however, the country still
exists and is able to grant refugees a nationality, protecting them from statelessness. Countries hit
aggressively by climate change, such as Tuvalu, may not have the same possibility; due to the rapid
increase of sea levels, some of these nations’ projections are to cease to exist by 2055, leaving their
citizens without a territory and most possibly without a nationality. Reactions to this most aggressive
manifestation of climate change have been extreme, up to the extent of forcing some Nations to
purchase land in foreign nations to guarantee that their citizens will have a place to go once their
homes are washed away.

Some of the most affected States, which usually are low-lying and island nations, have searched
for creative ways to confront this problem, such as purchasing land in foreign nations. In 2009, the
Maldives was the first to introduce the feasibility of purchasing land in another country in anticipation
of being progressively submerged. In 2015, Kiribati decided to attempt this by buying 20 square
kilometers of Vanua Levu, one of the Fiji Islands. This was with the objective to act as a possible refuge
for when their country receded under a rising ocean. Notwithstanding, Kiribati decided to transform it
into a commercial farm to help feed their population in 2021, with technical assistance from China.
Likewise, Tuvalu, a country where the highest peak above sea level is almost 4 meters, made the
decision to buy almost 20 square kilometers of land in Fiji in 2018 to be used for sustainable food
sources, claiming the salinity levels have highly impacted their soils, and therefore planting food has
increasingly become more strenuous.

These is one of the most extreme adaptation

measures to climate change. However, several
questions arise about the consequences it implies.
Who is the guarantor of the migrant community’s
right to freshwater, food security, health, education,
etc.? Is it the Host Nations, whose priority are its
own citizens? Is it the government whose
population had to migrate, while vaguely being able
to grant inhabitable land? Is this the most
adequate adaptation measure to tackle the
question of climate change and migration? What is
the responsibility of the international community
before these kinds of massive migrations due to
climatic causes?
 These are only some of the problems that have aroused throughout history due to the impacts
of climate change, from legal and economic to human rights catastrophes. However, people forcibly
mobilized by climate change do not have any type of formal guarantees when it comes down to leaving
their homes and having to resettle elsewhere, given the fact that they most times are unable to return
to their countries. Climate migration requires similar yet different solutions than regular migrants
and/or refugees; from the moment they must go to refugee camps and leave their nations to their
whole legal process when redomiciling in a new country, with all the economic and infrastructural
implications it carries. When analyzing this problem, it must be studied as a whole given the fact that
a solution for a single one of the problems climatic migration causes is not viable without solutions
for the rest of them. Migration due to climate change can be permanent, it does not depend, for
example, on a government transition; therefore, the rulings and adaptation procedures must
emphasize on the fact that these people have no hope to return to their previous circumstances
anytime soon.

Statement of the problem

The challenges of climate-change related movements are different from other migration
processes. The complex conceptualization of forced migration due to environmental conditions
started in 1985 in an UNEP report that used the term “environmental refugee” to refer to the
detrimental effects of climate change on the populations. In 1992 the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) warned that this “changes could initiate large migrations of people, leading
over a number of years to severe disruptions of settlement patterns and social instability in some
areas” 11.

The term “climate refugee” is frequently used by academics and media to draw public attention
to this situation, but that isn’t enough to grant them the same rights as refugees. Under International
refugee law, there is still no definition of what a climate refugee is, and therefore, they lack legal
protection. In this sense, there has been more institutional involvement in the past two decades,
mostly from a Human Rights perspective.
Despite the unanimity of opinion on the potential of
climate change to induce large-scale migration, there is a lack
of agreement over how many people are migrating and will
migrate in the future due to climate change. Many estimates
are available about the number of climate migrants, and these
forecasts vary from 25 million to 1 billion by 2050. However,
the commonly given assessment has been around 200 million.
In its Groundswell report released in 2021, the World Bank
calculates that 216 million people across six regions of the
world could move within their countries by 2050. The World
Bank anticipates this number will significantly increase
through the second half of the century.
 The reasons for these projections are very clear, while the consequences are just beginning to
be understood. Rising seas take away millions of people’s land, homes, and sources of livelihood, and
have started to force people to move from many low-lying coastal areas and small island countries.
The IPCC warns that sea levels could rise by up to 1.1 meters by 2100 (in the past 100 years they have
risen 16-21 centimeters). A rise of this magnitude will not only inundate large low-lying areas in many
countries but also potentially submerge many small island countries. Climate change also disturbs
rainfall patterns, leading to intensive flooding, drought, and soil erosion in tropical and arid regions.
Food production is also being affected by extreme weather, unpredictable seasonal changes, and
wildfires. In 2018, the Fourth National Climate Assessment report of the US Global Change Research
Program warned that climate change was disrupting agricultural productivity, causing severe food
insecurity and loss of farming jobs. Finally, the world’s critical freshwater situation is driving people
to migrate. More than 40% of the global population is suffering from water scarcity.

Climate change is expected to seriously aggravate the problem, particularly in Asia, Africa, and
the Middle East. Moreover, as water supply and demand patterns change, existing water-sharing
arrangements between countries and regions are likely to be more prone to tension and conflict. In
August 2021, a World Bank report stated that climate change is accelerating the global water crisis,
and the scarcity of water is contributing to 10% of the increase in global migration. Furthermore,
climate change varies from region to region. Coupled with the lack of legal protection, resources, and
active measures by each country within each region, this variation is driven by the uneven distribution
of solar heating, the individual responses of the atmosphere, oceans and land surface, the interactions
between these, and the physical characteristics of the regions. Therefore, this uneven progress of
climate change turns the increasing refugee migration into a dead-end escape12.
Climate change and natural disasters can add to
and worsen the threats that force people to flee across
international borders. The interplay between climate,
conflict, poverty, and persecution greatly increases the
complexity of refugee emergencies. Take, for instance,
the worsening droughts in Somalia, which along with
Al-Shabab-related violence are driving thousands of
people to flee within the country or trek to Ethiopia.
Existing refugee populations can also fall victim to
climate change or natural disasters and hazards, just as
happened during the Tropical Cyclone Idai in
Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi in March 2019. But
forced displacement itself can be a source of tension
and potential conflict if there is added competition for
natural resources, land rights, food and waternatural
problemsresources, land
amplified byrights, food and
the adverse waterof
effects problems
climate
amplified by the adverse effects of climate
change. Such issues can worsen relations between refugees and their non-refugee neighbors, or evenchange.
Such issues
help to create new refugee emergencies by themselves 13 can worsen relations between refugees and
.
their non-refugee neighbors, or even help to create new
refugee emergencies by themselves13.
Past Events and Actions
Conference Of Parties No. 26 and the Glasglow Climate Pact
One of the initiatives that the international community has taken towards the climate issue and
its consequent migration crisis is discussing this topic in the Conference of Parties (“COP” so forth),
which is the decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(“UNFCCC” so forth), an international environmental treaty to combat climate change, which
establishes three different levels of responsibility for developing and developed countries with or
without special financial responsibilities. The 26th COP took place in Glasglow and resulted in the
Glasglow Climate Pact. The Pact agreed on seven major points:

(i) It recognizes the climatic emergency and reaffirmed the Paris Agreement limit
of maintaining the rise of global average temperature at or below two degrees Celsius
and pursue limiting it to one and a half degrees Celsius.

(ii) It encourages accelerated action and calls for urgency and shorter timelines
for climate action.

(iii) It urges developed countries to comply with their financial compromises and
to comply with loss and damages, whose negotiations were due to start on June of the
current year. Since the consequential damages of climate change can be economic or
non-economic, the pecuniary factor of retribution for people who’ve lost their sources
of living (such as salt farmers losing their crops in Bangladesh), or family members (such
as the 129 mortal victims of Hurricane Irma in 2017) for example due to climate change
must be a pressing issue to discuss in this committee.

(iv) It highly insists on the doubling of finance to mitigate and adapt to the effects
of climate change, to build resilience in vulnerable land and protect lives and
livelihoods.

(v) It reiterates the importance of completing the Paris Rulebook, including

practical aspects such as the regulation of carbon markets and compromising on an
Enhanced Transparency Framework.

(vi) It reaffirms the importance of focusing on loss and damage, and how can
countries unite to provide technical assistance in times of need through initiatives like
the newly founded Santiago Network, a catalyzer for technical assistance on loss and
damages14 15.
 On the matter of climate migrants, the issues of loss of
livelihoods and quality of life because of climate change was
brought up for discussion and the motivator for this to be such a
pressing issue at this conference. Thus, it has become a well
debated topic, yet not properly addressed, within the work of the
UNFCCC. Reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change demonstrate that land degradation due to climate
change is already affecting 3.2 billion people on the planet, and
a significant influx of displaced peoples (IDPs) has been noticed
from
from the Middle East and North Africa theEurope,
into Middlefrom
East Central
and North Africainto
America intothe
Europe,
Unitedfrom Central
States and
from the Pacific Islands to mainlandAmerica into the
Asia or bigger United
islands dueStates and fromconsequences,
to progressive the Pacific Islands to
such as
mainland Asia or bigger islands due to progressive
droughts and food insecurity, or due to natural disasters such as cyclones, hurricanes and tsunamis 16.
consequences, such as droughts and food insecurity, or due to
natural disasters such as cyclones, hurricanes and tsunamis16.
Global Compact on Refugees
The UNHCR’s Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) is a global framework for predictable and
equitable responsibility sharing regarding refugees amongst members of the Compact. It represents
“the political will and ambition of the international community as a whole for strengthened
cooperation and solidarity with refugees and affected host countries'' and provides a blueprint for
governments, NGOs and other stakeholders; so, hosts communities get the necessary material,
humanitarian, infrastructural and financial support so refugees can lead productive lives in their new
Host Nations. It looks to ease pressure on host countries; enhance refugees' self-reliance; expand
access to third-country solutions and support conditions in countries of origin for return in safety and
dignity. It is composed of a Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework, a Programme of Action and
arrangements for follow-ups and reviews.
The Global Compact on Refugees is one of the few international documents that recognizes
climate migrants and climate refugees, in a non-binding manner. Regarding its applicability of
arrangements for burden and responsibility‐sharing to countries affected by displacement resulting
from natural disasters and environmental degradation, it recognizes that “external forced
displacement may result from sudden‐onset natural disasters and environmental degradation”. It
notes that States “may seek support from the international community to address complex challenges
that arise from such situations”. This paragraph has been carefully crafted to ensure that the GCR
applies not only to large refugee situations, but also to countries affected by environmental
degradation and natural disasters. It allows them to adhere to the arrangements for burden and
responsibility‐sharing laid out in the GCR, such as national arrangements, Support Platforms, and
regional and sub‐regional approaches. It reflects operational realities, in a spirit of consensus, also
focusing on the practical cooperation between relevant actors, including UNHCR and IOM.
 The GCR also calls for “stakeholders with relevant
mandates and expertise [to] provide guidance and support for
measures to address other protection and humanitarian
challenges. This could include measures to assist those forcibly
displaced by natural disasters, taking into account national law
and regional instruments as applicable, as well as practices
such as temporary protection and humanitarian stay
arrangements”. UNHCR considers that this language will
precisely avoid any gap and ensure that all those people in
need of international protection are covered, including in the
context of climate change and disasters17. This extract should
be read with
be read withbroad
broadinterpretation,
interpretation,understanding
understanding that
that thethe
needs of climate migrants and refugees
needsnot
shall of climate migrants
be limited to what and
is refugees shallunderstood
traditionally not be limited to
as humanitarian aid, temporary asylum and
what is traditionally understood as humanitarian aid,
assistance in returning to their countries of origin once the situation is stabilized. Most climate
temporary
migrants and asylum
refugees andresettle
assistance
in ruralinareas
returning
with notoaccess
their to core and/nor utility services, and
countries of origin
displacement itselfonce
canthebesituation
a causeis for
stabilized. Most climate
environmental deterioration. Considering most climate
migrants
migrants cannot return to their homes because they to
and refugees resettle in rural areas with no access become, for one reason or another,
core and/nor utility
uninhabitable, services,
a shift towardsandadaptable
displacement
and itself can be aliving is necessary by partnering with
sustainable
cause
relevantfor andenvironmental
expert stakeholdersdeterioration. Considering
to address, most
for instance, issues regarding accessibility to water,
climate migrants cannot return to
electricity, food security and infrastructure.their homes because they
become, for one reason or another, uninhabitable, a shift
towards adaptable and sustainable living is necessary by
Platform for Disaster Displacement
partnering with relevant and expert stakeholders to address,
for instance, issues regarding accessibility to water, electricity,
As a follow-up
food security of the Nansen Initiative, the Platform for Disaster Displacement is a state-led
and infrastructure.
initiative whose objective is to provide protection for people displaced in the context of disasters and
climate change. It is composed by a Chair and Vice-Chair, that supervise overall operations; an Envoy
on the Chair that advises the Chair and the Steering Group; the Steering Group as the director of the
work of the Platform and related efforts at the global level on the basis of an approved Strategic
Framework and Workplan, composed by 15 to 20 Member States; a Group of Friends that strengthens
awareness on the protection and assistance needs of disaster displaced persons, as an open-ended
group and consists of States and regional organizations; and the Advisory Committee, that consists of
representatives of international and regional organizations, with expertise in fields such as
humanitarian assistance and protection, human rights, migration management, refugee protection,
disaster risk reduction, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and development.

The Platform’s efforts are focused on promoting measures for those that are at risk of losing
their homes, forced to migrate so they do so safely. They are a key mediator between partners and
key stakeholders in a community of practice on disaster displacement. They also have a pivotal role
in raising awareness about disaster displacement into relevant policymaking forums and processes,
addressing issues such as climate change, disaster risk reduction, human rights, humanitarian action,
refugee protection, and migration. It also harmonizes data collection through the Advisory Committee,
to have precise information on why, where, when, and how people move in the context of disasters,
particularly when they cross international borders.
addressing issues such as climate change, disaster risk reduction, human rights, humanitarian action,
refugee protection, and migration. It also harmonizes data collection through the Advisory Committee,
to have precise information on why, where, when, and how people move in the context of disasters,
particularly when they cross international borders.
Since its launch in 2016, the Platform has
insisted on the importance of strengthening the
coordination between UN agencies and their
commitment to address disaster displacement as a
cross-cutting issue. To accurately understand this
problem, continued efforts are needed to improve
data and monitoring on the subject. It is evident that
effective response to disaster displacement requires
coordination among different ministries, policy areas,
and organizations.

Previous Mitigation & Adaptation Methods

Even though climate change cannot be stopped, it can be mitigated, and we can adapt to the
circumstances it unlinks. This requires large-scale methods coordinated between economies, civil
society, and governments to be more resilient to climate change’s impacts. Infrastructural change to
deter the rising sea levels, deviate water to prevent erosion, water purification, desalination, and
transportation to zones with water scarcity are all measures that should be considered for, when in
the near future, some zones continue becoming uninhabitable due to the effects of climate change.
Regarding the massive migration this entails, more resistant structures should be considered for them
to be resilient to rainstorms, hurricanes, earthquakes and so forth. Energy availability through
sustainable means should also be considered, such as solar, Aeolic, and hydraulic energy sources.
Amongst other things, the UNHCR provides clean and reliable energy, helps preserve and rehabilitate
the environment and focuses on reducing its own environmental impact18.

The UNHCR has

The UNHCR hastackled
tackledthese
these issues
issues through
through several
several different strategies. In Ethiopia’s Somali
different strategies. In Ethiopia’s Somali region, for instance,
region, for instance, there are no energy grids, firewood is scarce and portable batteries are
there are no for
unaffordable energy
mostgrids, firewood
families. Thus,is UNHCR
scarce and portable
alongside The Ikea Foundation since 2017 has
batteries
implemented are solar-powered
unaffordable grids
for most
in thefamilies.
Dollo AdoThus,
camps. UNHCR
This project has since then been managed
alongside The Ikea based
by five cooperatives, Foundation
in eachsince
one of 2017
the has implemented
five camps conformed by refugees and host community
solar-powered grids in the Dollo Ado camps. This
members. In a region increasingly affected by climate change, project has solar power answered the need for
since then been managed by five cooperatives, based in each
energy in the camps to be clean and sustainable, while the establishment of cooperatives to run them
one of the much-needed
is generating five camps conformed by refugees
income. Nationals and host
and refugees in the region have stated that this, besides
community members. their
significantly improving In aquality
regionofincreasingly affected
life, has restored their by
dignity and self-esteem19.
climate change, solar power answered the need for energy in
the camps to be clean and sustainable, while the establishment
of cooperatives to run them is generating much-needed income.
Nationals and refugees in the region have stated that this,
besides significantly improving their quality of life, has restored
their dignity and self-esteem19.
climate change, solar power answered the need for energy in the camps to be clean and sustainable,
while the establishment of cooperatives to run them is generating much-needed income. Nationals
and refugees in the region have stated that this, besides significantly improving their quality of life,
has restored their dignity and self-esteem19. An initiative of similar intent was the one taken in 2018
by UNHCR and its partners in southern Bangladesh, where deforestation due to massive migration
from Myanmar made the communities much more vulnerable to heavy rains.

Between June and October of last year, torrential rains batter the camps, collapsing hillsides,
submerging makeshift shelters, and displacing the refugees once again. Approximately 24,000
refugees were forced to abandon their homes and belongings and dozens lost their lives. Hence, a re-
greening program was set out in 2018 to restore the ecosystem and stabilize hillsides. Bangladeshis
and Rohingya refugees received training in how to plant and nurse the trees planted for this project,
and over 600 hectares of trees and three years later the communities of southern Bangladesh have
better living conditions and are committed to care for their greenery.

The UNHCR has supplied with clean energy and livelihood for some communities. However, the
work is not done; without radical international action, temperatures will continue to rise and more
people every day will be displaced due to climate change. Their effective relocation and other
hardships refugees endure regarding their legal status, for example, are only the beginning; adequate
infrastructure and access to clean sources of energy are essential for a dignified life. This of course
implies a thorough financial planification and effective allocation of resources in vulnerable areas
coordinated by the UNHCR. None of this has been done without cooperation amongst Member States,
local civil societies, and private partners.

Current situation
The devastating intensification of extreme weather is laid bare today in several studies that
show how people across the world are losing their lives and livelihoods due to more deadly and more
frequent heat waves, floods, wildfires, and droughts brought by the climate crisis. The analysis of
hundreds of scientific studies – the most comprehensive compilation to date – demonstrates beyond
any doubt how humanity’s vast carbon emissions are forcing the climate to disastrous new extremes.
At least a dozen of the most serious events, from killer heatwaves to broiling seas, would have been
all but impossible without human-caused global warming. Most worryingly, all this is happening with
a rise of just 1°C in the planet’s average temperature. The role of global warming in supercharging
extreme weather is happening at astonishing speed.

The world is currently on track for a rise of at least 2.5°C, which makes projections even more
worrisome of what we have already experienced. Most of the people displaced by climate change are
internally displaced people (IDPs), meaning that they have had to flee their homes but remain within
the borders of their countries of origin. Climate change has been proven to exacerbate inner conflict,
as it did during the Arab Spring due to water scarcity. For example, in the Sahel – where temperatures
are rising much faster than the global average – diminishing water supplies have disrupted the
livelihoods of local pastors and farmers, leading to violent clashes in Cameroon’s Far North region
over a dwindling supply. In Afghanistan, the onset of the country’s second severe drought in just four
years has added to the challenges people face – over 600,000 people have been displaced from their
homes within the past year due to economic collapse, conflict and famine. In Mali, drying lakes
threaten the livelihoods of fishermen, who are often forced to move to lakes in nearby countries such
as Mauritania, where climate change has also led to dwindling water supplies. The scarcity of
are rising much faster than the global average – diminishing water supplies have disrupted the
livelihoods of local pastors and farmers, leading to violent clashes in Cameroon’s Far North region
over a dwindling supply. In Afghanistan, the onset of the country’s second severe drought in just four
years has added to the challenges people face – over 600,000 people have been displaced from their
homes within the past year due to economic collapse, conflict, and famine. In Mali, drying lakes
threaten the livelihoods of fishermen, who are often forced to move to lakes in nearby countries such
as Mauritania, where climate change has also led to dwindling water supplies. The scarcity of
previously abundant resources such as water and fish stock has led to increasing tensions between
Mauritian herders and farmers and displaced Malian. Like those in Mali, 90% of refugees living in rural
areas do not have access to freshwater or clean and reliable energy. Access to clean energy is not only
important in the fight against climate change but is also essential for the wellbeing of refugees.

In some contexts, displacement itself can lead to environmental deterioration. For instance, the
reliance of refugees on firewood can lead to deforestation, expose refugees to toxic smoke and places
women and girls (who go looking for firewood after dark) at a greater risk of experiencing sexual
violence. Because widespread recognition of climate change as a pressing global issue is a recent
development, international refugee law has not yet adjusted to the realities of climate migration. Very
little action to modify international law has been taken.

Most legal scholars agree that the current rigid

definition of a “refugee” put forth by the 1951 Refugee
Convention does not include climate refugees.
Additionally, it is difficult for climate migrants to prove
that they meet the requirement of persecution, as well as
the requirement of being a member of a particular social
group. While the effects of climate change are certainly
harmful, they do not legally constitute persecution. Even if
the effects of climate change are classified as persecution,
international law specifies that the persecution must
occur based on religion, race, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
or membership
While in a particular
climate change social
may affect group.
certain Whilemore
groups climate
than others, it still affects a wide and diverse
changeofmay
range affect
people. certain
This groupsitmore
fact makes than
difficult to others,
find oneit fundamental
still characteristic that defines and/or
affects a wide and diverse range of people. This fact makes
identifies the particular social group affected by climate change.
it difficult to find one fundamental characteristic that
definesInternational law does
and/or identifies thenot currentlysocial
particular recognize
groupclimate
migrants
affected byas refugees,
climate change.rejecting the first climate refugee
application made by the Teitiota family. Although the New
Zealand courts recognized and accepted many of Tietiota’s claims
about the dangerous effects of climate change on residents of
Kiribati, they were legally incapable of granting IoaneTeitiota and
his family refugee status due to the restrictive nature of the
term’s definition1. People displaced by climatic causes, both
progressive and sudden, have little to no formal support by the
international community to redomiciliate and start a new life with
somewhat quality. Immediate, on-the-ground aid is barely
available in an organized matter and most refugee camps do not
have access to sustainable energy sources. Long-term options
with a dignifying quality of life are scarce, as few countries
term’s definition20. People displaced by climatic causes, both progressive and sudden, have little to
no formal support by the international community to relocate and start a new life with somewhat
quality. Immediate, on-the-ground aid is barely available in an organized matter and most refugee
camps do not have access to sustainable energy sources. Long-term options with a dignifying quality
of life are scarce, as few countries recognize the figure of climate migrants as a severe phenomenon
that, most times, requires permanent relocation. The lack of legal, financial, economic, and sustainable
aid these people receive in both the short and long term are some of the deficiencies from the
international community towards these groups. This is a situation that will only worsen, whose
adaptability and mitigation measures should progress as fast as its effects 21.

Proposed solutions
Some of the measures already being taken, as exposed in the UNHCR Challenge Study Guide,
need further and more localized implementation and adaptation to all the different circumstances
climate migrants and refugees face. Access to clean, sustainable sources of energy and adequate
structures are fundamental to reach this objective, considering all its economic, financial, and
structural implications. It is necessary to enhance resilience of displaced communities while giving
them a new chance for self-determination.

Further mitigation and adaptation measures for climate change are fundamental, since climate
change cannot be detained and its effects will not fully stop, only decrease in speed and impact.
International protection is necessary so climate migrants can formally acquire refugee status and its
protections, since the UNHCR Refugee Convention does not offer UNHCR any additional means of
action to those conferred by its Statute. It does mention, however, that national authorities, or “an
international authority” (UNHCR) are under the obligation to issue to refugees any administrative
documents that they can no longer obtain from their own national authorities, either because it does
not exist or is incapable of providing so, but that are indispensable for the exercise of their individual
rights.

Committee expectations
Our vision is to have a committee that discusses pressing matters and offers innovative and
feasible solutions that can be implemented in the actual international sphere. In this committee in
particular, our final product could affect a refugee community’s life like it is currently doing so after
being selected by the UNHCR as last year’s Challenge winners. Henceforth, it is important that your
solutions reflect content, feasibility, and the possibility for them to materialize in the real world.
Solutions that are not feasible will be frowned upon for both the author and the bloc that let them
become a part of the document in which they have delivered. This is a very complex topic, and we
expect that with this guide, the UNHCR Refugee Challenge Guide and your own policy research you
carry it out flawlessly while enriching your co-delegates with knowledge that drives you to a common
objective; solving the QARMAS drafted on the Challenge’s guide, which for the effects of this Committee
will be the ones we guide ourselves by.
 We expect efficient use of the content you have, without digressing in the possible adjacent of
the topic, and nurturing debate with a policy-based foundation and narrative, as well as diplomacy
on your participation towards your peers and your Dais. Delegates that portray disrespectful attitudes
towards their bloc peers will not be considered for an award. How you brand and market your
solutions and yourselves is also crucial for it to be efficiently transmitted to your peers and to have
impact within the Committee's sphere. Finally, we expect this to be an enriching, yet demanding
experience that gives you the tools to be out mostly prepared for your other simulations and your
international conferences. As of suggestions for further research, this guide and the Challenge’,
backed with good policy-based research and a review of both guides’ references should be enough to
be prepared content-wise for this committee, but do not hesitate of being curious and nurturing
yourself and us in the Committee with additional, useful content.

Towards the UNHCR Refugee Challenge, we expect you to take it with the seriousness it entails;
this is most likely the first time that what you do in MUN has the possibility to translate to real life.
Solutions that are instrumentally and MUN-wise smart, but in analysis unfeasible, are not what we
expect from you in this committee. We expect that your solutions are feasible and executable, well
thought-through and that consider, not only the legal, economic, infrastructural, and energetic aspects
of it, but the fact that they must also be humane, considering the situation climate migrants and
refugees are currently enduring. Even if it is argued that the 68 million refugees from 2017 are not a
significant number for the purposes of that year, the 143 million estimated for 2050 will represent a
real imbalance in the international community. Millions of people without land to return to, without
legal status, and countries receiving foreigners without a clear course of action of what rights
correspond to this wave of people and what duties they must fulfill towards them. If there are no clear
protection mechanisms at the international level, more people will find themselves unprotected by
international refugee law and international human rights law.

QARMAS
The debate on climate change and displacement in this edition of MOVENU adheres to the
QARMAS found in the UNHCR Background Guide, once again the importance of reading and reviewing
this important document during the days of the conference is reminded.
REFERENCES
1. 1951 Refugee Convention. https://www.unhcr.org/3b66c2aa10

2. Governance and organization: HOW THE UNHCR is run and structured. UNHCR Central Europe.
(n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2022, from https://www.unhcr.org/ceu/147-enabout-usgovernance-
and-organization-html.html

3. United Nations. (n.d.). United Nations high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) | Department
of Economic and Social Affairs. United Nations. Retrieved August 15, 2022, from
https://sdgs.un.org/un-system-sdg-implementation/united-nations-high-commissioner-
refugees-unhcr-34591

4. UNHCR. (s.f.). United Nations and the Rule of Law. :https://www.un.org/ruleoflaw/un-and-the-

rule-of-law/united-nations-high-commissioner-for-refugees/

5. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change No. 57 https://www.ipcc.ch/

6. Greicius, T. (2013, July 30). Grace mission. NASA. Retrieved August 15, 2022, from
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/Grace/

7. Sea level trends - NOAA tides & currents. Tides & Currents. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2022, from
https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/sltrends/sltrends.html

8. Lindsey, R. (n.d.). Climate change: Global sea level. NOAA Climate.gov. Retrieved August 15, 2022,
from https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-
sea-level

9. Tower, A. (2022, January 27). 2021 deepened climate migration as survival. Climate Refugees.
Retrieved August 15, 2022, from https://www.climate-
refugees.org/spotlight/2021climatemigration#:~:text=2021%20closed%20with%20yet%20anothe
r,than%20by%20conflict%20or%20violence.

10. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (n.d.). Ioane Teitiota v. New Zealand (advance
unedited version). Refworld. Retrieved August 15, 2022, from
https://www.refworld.org/cases,HRC,5e26f7134.html

11. [1] (IPCC, 1992, pág. 89)

12. Swain, A. (2021, October 25). Opinion: Protect climate refugees under international law. The Third
Pole. Retrieved August 15, 2022, from https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/climate/protect-
climate-refugees-international/

13. Climate change and displacement - world | reliefweb. (n.d.). Retrieved August 16, 2022, from
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/climate-change-and-displacement

14. Conference of Parties No. 26, https://www.undp.org/iran/conference-parties-

cop?utm_source=EN&utm_medium=GSR&utm_content=US_UNDP_PaidSearch_Brand_English
12. Swain, A. (2021, October 25). Opinion: Protect climate refugees under international law. The Third
Pole. Retrieved August 15, 2022, from https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/climate/protect-
climate-refugees-international/

13. Climate change and displacement - world | reliefweb. (n.d.). Retrieved August 16, 2022, from
https://reliefweb.int/report/world/climate-change-and-displacement

14. Conference of Parties No. 26, https://www.undp.org/iran/conference-parties-

cop?utm_source=EN&utm_medium=GSR&utm_content=US_UNDP_PaidSearch_Brand_English
&utm_campaign=CENTRAL&c_src=CENTRAL&c_src2=GSR&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlK-
WBhDjARIsAO2sErRrNJZf_DRHlsAJMzEEQvc5RUSXSWCtmLduSaQCsE-
XaJWZ8usXstoaAhEwEALw_wcB

15. Glasglow Climate Pact, https://www.undp.org/speeches/conclusion-un-climate-change-

conference-
cop26?utm_source=EN&utm_medium=GSR&utm_content=US_UNDP_PaidSearch_Brand_Englis
h&utm_campaign=CENTRAL&c_src=CENTRAL&c_src2=GSR&gclid=CjwKCAjw2rmWBhB4EiwAiJ0mt
Xgfg0K3KriJrZq54Gw8tj4PVWKDhglwtAhnEQPai-22xOfG73l0UxoC_aAQAvD_BwE

16. Ibid.

17. Global Compact on Refugees, https://www.unhcr.org/the-global-compact-on-refugees.html

18. UNHCR’s Refugee Challenge guide:Climate Change & Displacement.

19. Solar cooperatives give refugees and locals in Ethiopia clean energy and livelihoods, UNHCR
https://www.unhcr.org/news/stories/2021/6/60b8c9874/solar-cooperatives-give-refugees-
locals-ethiopia-clean-energy-livelihoods.html

20. Climate change and international law: A case for expanding the ... (n.d.). Retrieved August 16,
2022, from https://research.library.fordham.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=fulr

21. Guardian News and Media. (2022, August 4). Revealed: How climate breakdown is supercharging
toll of extreme weather. The Guardian. Retrieved August 15, 2022, from
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/04/climate-breakdown-supercharging-
extreme-weather