Australia is the first country to offer climate refuge, after signing a new treaty with Tuvalu.
This means, Australia has offered permanent residency to the 11,200 Tuvalu residents due to the catastrophic impacts of rising seas.
The agreement could set an example for the rest of the world ahead of 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Listen to the episode of The Briefing here:
But what does this mean for people in other nations around the world in similar circumstances to Tuvalu?
In this episode of The Briefing, Katrina Blowers speaks with Tamara Wood from the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law about exactly what this deal means.
Ms Wood said countries like Australia have an obligation to support smaller countries like Tuvalu facing the adverse effects of climate change, “irrespective of the benefits they get in return”.
She said relocation would be a last resort for communities but would be available if they need it.
“In a sense that’s really a measure of last resort, to relocate an entire community from one place to another is a very difficult thing to do successfully,” she said.
“But of course, it’s going to be necessary in some cases. But it’s really important to look at how exactly is climate change impacting this particular community, and what do they need?
“That will be different in different places.”
To hear about the details of the treaty, including what it entails and Tuvalu’s obligations, as well as what can be done for other nations affected by climate change, listen to today’s episode of The Briefing.
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