Climate-Induced Migration in the Asia Pacific: Need for a Regional Protection System for Migrants

Climate change has emerged as one of today”s most pressing concerns for the entire international community. While the adverse impacts of climate change can be felt worldwide in the form of sudden events like natural calamities, it is a gradual process, and stringent steps are warranted to mitigate its effects. Asia Pacific region is particularly more vulnerable to climate change as many of its island nations are low-lying and economically inadequate to develop the infrastructure for the safety of its population. Through a doctrinal research methodology, this paper argues that the Asia Pacific region must rise above its “sub-regions” and, in regional solidarity and shared responsibility, must collaborate and prepare the framework for the protection of climate-induced migrants who might be compelled to cross an international border to seek protection and shelter in a neighbouring country. This paper argues that the Asia Pacific region must form a regional protection system through a multilateral treaty, the objective of which must be to ensure that the fundamental human rights of climate-induced migrants are not abused in either a host country that provided them shelter during their cross-border migration.