Submission to the WIM ExCom on Non-Economic Losses

The Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage, the body under the UNFCCC responsible for implementation of approaches to address loss and damage from climate change impacts, is currently undertaking a revision of its technical paper on non-economic losses.

In recognition of the growing awareness around loss and damage as a result of climate change, Climate Refugees has prepared four case studies, which we hope will be helpful to the WIM ExCom as they update the technical paper for the first time since 2013. Climate Refugees’ submissions, available in a single PDF below, are based on our visits to and reporting on Kenya’s Rift Valley.

Planned Relocation: Submission to the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of IDPs

Climate Refugees recently provided a submission on displacement and planned relocation in the context of climate change, in response to a call for input from Ms. Paula Gaviria-Betancur, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons.

Based on our field visits and reporting from Miami and Kenya, we hope our submission will be helpful to the Special Rapporteur as she prepares her report to the forthcoming 56th session of the Human Rights Council.

Read the full submission below.

Climate Justice and Loss & Damage: Submission to the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development

In response to a call for input from the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development, Climate Refugees joined colleagues from the Loss and Damage Collaboration (L&DC) in a submission to inform the Special Rapporteur’s thematic report on climate justice and loss & damage.

Climate Refugees’ contributions to this submission are based on our field work and reporting from Kenya’s Rift Valley. We hope the submission - which can be read in its entirety below as well as on the L&DC site - will be helpful and informative to the Special Rapporteur’s important work in this area.

Submission for the ICJ Advisory Opinion on Climate Change

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is currently considering a request for advisory opinion on the obligations of States when it comes to climate change, a historic case that is the result of a long campaign by youth activists in Vanuatu, who convinced the Government of Vanuatu to lead a resolution at the UN General Assembly. Adopted in March 2023, the resolution formally asked the ICJ to provide clarity on the obligations of States under international law to ensure the protection of the climate and environment, as well as what consequences arise when States fail - whether by act or omission - to do so.

After multiple rounds of written submissions from States and other entities, the Court will commence oral proceedings in late 2024, with the advisory opinion expected in early 2025.

In order to bring attention to the importance of the Court considering climate displacement as part of the proceedings, Climate Refugees submitted - along with several civil society and academic experts - a brief on key issues, which we hope will be useful to Parties as they consider their own positions.

Read the brief we jointly submitted in its entirety below.

Climate Change, Loss & Damage, and Human Rights: Submission to OHCHR

In response to a call for input from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Climate Refugees has provided a submission to help inform the Secretary-General’s analytical study on the impact of loss and damage from the adverse effects of climate change on the full enjoyment of human rights, which will be presented at the Human Rights Committee at its 57th session later this year.

Climate Refugees’ submission is based on field work and subsequent reporting from the Lake Chad Basin, Kenya’s Rift Valley, and Miami (South Florida), as well as recent advocacy efforts on climate change migration and displacement.

Read the full submission to OHCHR below.