ENVIRONMENTALLY INDUCED MIGRATION, VULNERABILITY AND HUMAN SECURITY: CONSENSUS, CONTROVERSIES AND CONCEPTUAL GAPS FOR POLICY ANALYSIS

摘要

This Policy Arena examines the consensus, controversies and some conceptual gaps associated with how policy approaches environmentally induced migration and human security concerns associated with individuals displaced as a result of climatic variability. This introductory paper discusses the theme from a historical approach to policy analysis of the subject by looking at three main areas of policy concern. The trilogy of discord are related to first, the absence of recognised definition of this phenomenon; second, the disagreement over the number of environmental migrants; and third, the diverse legal perspectives. It is not a coincidence that these traditional three thematic issues should remain controversial as they each relate to one another; with no recognised definitions, no precise criterions can be set out to calculate the number of environmental migrants, and consequently, no rigorous legal framework can be implemented to deal with environmentally induced migration. Although recent research projects led by governments and international organisations have chosen to move beyond the question of terminology by providing crucial data on the topic, there is the need to arrive at some internationally recognised consensus on the three core issues linked to the topic of environmental migration in order to legitimise the field. Such a step will also facilitate policy efforts at addressing environmental migration at the national and international levels.