South Asian Climate Migration with a Special Emphasis on the existing Policy towards Climate Migrants

Abstract

The heavily populated Southern Asia sub-region, which is home to 1.94 billion people, has been shaped by significant migrant patterns, due to disasters and conflicts. The fact that some of the South Asian countries have not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol is currently viewed as a very serious concern for how refugees and climate migrants are treated in these regions. Countries in the region are aware that migratory patterns are impacted by climate change and other factors, but they are typically reluctant to make significant changes to current migration and climate-related policies. India is the best illustration of how these people managed to thrive without a proper legal system. This study examines how well India complies with international norms, asks whether India should provide better assistance to refugees and migrants due to climate change, and examines regional and global measures already in place to help refugees and migrants due to climate change. Encouraging environmental constitutionalism and enhancing protections for human rights may be feasible alternatives for South Asian nations, particularly India. In this case, a more robust structure for regional cooperation on climate action that takes climate migration into account is required.