Human Rights Beyond Borders: Climate Refugees, Statelessness, And The Future Of Human Rights In The Anthropocene
- IJLLR Journal
- 6 days ago
- 1 min read
Puneeth R, KLE Law College, Bangalore
ABSTRACT
The accelerating climate crisis has precipitated unprecedented patterns of human displacement, fundamentally challenging the adequacy of existing international legal frameworks. While the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol provide protection for those fleeing persecution, war, and violence, they categorically exclude individuals displaced by environmental degradation and climate change, a gap that affects an estimated 21.5 million people annually. This paper argues that conventional, state-centric models of sovereignty and rights are inadequate for addressing climate-induced displacement. It proposes rethinking protection through a human-centred, post-territorial lens, including recognizing climate displacement as a form of involuntary statelessness. By outlining potential reforms, such as a dedicated legal category and an international framework for collective responsibility, this paper aims to inform more effective, equitable responses to one of the defining challenges of the Anthropocene.
