The world needs to prepare for a surge in refugees with potentially millions of people being driven from their homes by the impact of climate change, the United Nations has warned.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum, the UN's High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, said a meant those fleeing as a result of climate change had to be treated by recipient countries as refugees, with broad implications for governments.
The UN Human Rights Committee made the landmark ruling on Monday in relation to Ioane Teitiota, from the Pacific nation of Kiribati, who brought a case against New Zealand after authorities denied his claim of asylum.
"The ruling says if you have an immediate threat to your life due to climate change, due to the climate emergency, and if you cross the border and go to another country, you should not be sent back because you would be at risk of your life, just like in a war or in a situation of persecution," Mr Grandi said.
"We must be prepared for a large surge of people moving against their will," he said.
"I wouldn't venture to talk about specific numbers, it's too speculative, but certainly we're talking about millions here."
Potential drivers include wildfires like those seen in Australia, rising sea levels affecting low-lying islands, the destruction of crops and livestock in sub-Saharan Africa and floods worldwide, including in parts of the developed world.
Ioane Teitiota was deported from New Zealand and became known as the world's first climate refugee. Source: Getty
Whereas for most of its 70 years UNHCR, the UN's refugee agency, has worked to assist those fleeing poorer countries as a result of conflict, climate change is more indiscriminate, meaning richer countries may become a rising source of refugees.
"It is further proof that refugee movements and the broader issue of migration of populations... is a global challenge that cannot be confined to a few countries," Mr Grandi said.
