In response to calls for input from Ms. Paula Gaviria Betancur, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Climate Refugees provided a submission to help inform the Special Rapporteur’s report to the UN General Assembly on key contributing drivers of displacement, including Climate change and internal displacement, and the following questions:

1. What issues related to internal displacement and climate change are most serious in terms of protecting human rights, reducing barriers, and fostering conditions for progressively achieving durable solutions that would warrant the Special Rapporteur’s attention and reporting?

2. What specific groups or populations are particularly or differentially affected by climate change and internal displacement? Is their meaningful and full participation ensured and if so, how? If not, what are the main obstacles?

3. What actions would you suggest the Special Rapporteur take to address these issues, within the purview of her mandate and complementary to the actions of her predecessors?

4. What are the main elements of effective preventive strategies for internal displacement driven by climate change, including adaptation measures and planned relocation policies?

Climate Refugees provided inputs derived from its recent regional work in the Horn of Africa, including Kenya and Somalia, as well as developments in legal protections for internally displaced persons as a result of climate change, found in its publication Spotlight.

Read the full submission to the Special Rapporteur below.