SEJ
Published on SEJ (https://www.sej.org)

Home > "People Urgently Fleeing Climate Crisis Cannot Be Sent Home, UN Rules"

"People Urgently Fleeing Climate Crisis Cannot Be Sent Home, UN Rules" [1]

"People fleeing immediate danger due to the climate crisis cannot be forced to return home, the UN has said.

The landmark ruling centres on the case of Ioane Teitiota, whose home - the Pacific Island of Kiribati - is threatened by rising sea levels.

Mr Teitiota applied for protection in New Zealand in 2013.

The UN rejected his claim, saying he wasn't in immediate danger, but the wording of its ruling allows others to claim asylum based on climate change.

Sending asylum seekers home when their lives are threatened by the climate crisis "may expose individuals to a violation of their rights" - specifically, it said, their right to life."

BBC News had the story January 20, 2020. [2]

Climate Change [3]
Environmental Justice [4]
Laws & Regulations [5]
International [6]
Public [7]
Source: BBC News [2], 01/21/2020
  • Contact Us  |
  • Donate  |
  • Join  |
  • Members  |
  • Privacy & Security Policies  |
  • Reach SEJ Members  |
  • Renew  |
  • Site Map
The Society of Environmental Journalists
1629 K Street NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006
Telephone: (202) 558-2055
Email: sej@sej.org
© 2025 The Society of Environmental Journalists. All Rights Reserved.
All graphics © SEJ, unless otherwise stated.

Source URL:https://www.sej.org/headlines/people-urgently-fleeing-climate-crisis-cannot-be-sent-home-un-rules

Links
[1] https://www.sej.org/headlines/people-urgently-fleeing-climate-crisis-cannot-be-sent-home-un-rules [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51179931 [3] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/climate-change [4] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/environmental-justice [5] https://www.sej.org/category/topics-beat/laws [6] https://www.sej.org/category/region/international [7] https://www.sej.org/taxonomy/term/81