Climate Change, Displacement, and Human Rights: A Critical Analysis of India's Response to Climate Refugees

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.” - Mahatma Gandhi

INTRODUCTION

One of the elements that sustains life and creates ideal conditions for human habitation on Earth is the climate. One cannot imagine life on Earth without a suitable climate. The entire environmental system depends on the others. Resources are exploited by humans without adequate planning. The globe is at risk of climate change and a climatic crisis as a result of improper and unregulated use of natural resources, and as a result of these issues, climate refugees are becoming more and more common. India is experiencing numerous climate-related issues and mass relocation as a result of climate change and the climate catastrophe, just like every other country in the globe. With its profound effects on migration, displacement, and human rights, climate change has become one of the most important challenges of our day. With millions of people suffering relocation and displacement as a result of rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and a rise in the frequency of extreme weather events, India is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

According to the International Organisation for Migration, climate change will cause up to 45 million people to migrate from India by 2050. With several obstacles and holes in the current legal frameworks, the problem of climate refugees is complicated. International refugee law does not recognise climate refugees, and current legal frameworks like the UNHCR Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and the 1951 Refugee Covenant do not offer enough protection. The Indian government has also come under fire for its lack of accountability and transparency in dealing with climate change. Many contend that the National Action Plan on Climate Change of the nation lacks precise benchmarks for tracking advancement or guaranteeing accountability. Numerous professionals and scholars are striving to create new legal frameworks and policies to handle the issue of climate refugees in spite of these obstacles. For instance, two scholars from one of the best colleges in India have put out a normative legal framework to deal with the growing problem of migration brought on by climate change. Under the well-established legal principle of non-refoulement, which is at the core of the 1951 Refugee Convention, their proposal asks nations to welcome those who have been compelled to leave their homes owing to the effects of climate change.

MEANING OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND INDUCED DISPLACEMENT

Long-term changes in weather patterns and temperatures are referred to as climate change. These changes could be organic, like changes in the solar cycle. However, since the 1800s, burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas has been the primary cause of climate change. Communities all throughout the world are already suffering greatly as a result of climate change, with millions of people experiencing migration, displacement, and human rights abuses. With many communities already feeling the consequences of rising temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns, climate change is predicted to have a major impact on agriculture, water resources, and human health in India. Fossil fuel combustion produces greenhouse gas emissions, which envelop the Earth like a blanket, trapping solar heat and causing temperatures to rise. Methane and carbon dioxide are two examples of greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to climate change. One of the main sources of methane emissions is landfills. Among the primary emitters are energy, industry, transportation, buildings, agriculture, and land use. Both global warming and its effects on Earth's weather patterns are considered aspects of the current climate change.

Temperatures on land have increased roughly twice as quickly as the world average. Wildfires and heat waves are increasing, and deserts are spreading. Sea ice loss, glacial retreat, and permafrost thawing have all been exacerbated by increased warmth in the Arctic. Storms and other weather extremes are becoming more severe due to rising temperatures. Numerous species are being forced to relocate or go extinct due to the rapid environmental change occurring in the Arctic, mountains, and coral reefs. People are at risk from more flooding, severe heat, more disease, a shortage of food and water, and financial loss due to climate change. Conflict and human migration may follow.

According to the World Health Organisation, the biggest threat to world health in the twenty-first century is climate change. The next point that may come up is whether India has the legal framework necessary to handle an upcoming refugee crisis or even widespread domestic displacement brought on by climate change. There is no national legislation in India that addresses this subject specifically.

THE CLIMATE CRISIS – A RACE WE CAN WIN

The extraction of coal, oil, and gas releases billions of tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere annually. Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are at an all-time high and show no signs of slowing down. A ten-year review of UNEP Emission Gap data indicates that we are on course to continue on our "business as usual" course. The four warmest years on record have been the past four. We are near what scientists warn would be "an unacceptable risk" and at least one degree Celsius over preindustrial levels, according to a September 2019 World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) report.

The Paris Climate Agreement of 2015 stipulates that future warming should be kept "well below" two degrees Celsius, with efforts being made to keep the increase to 1.5 degrees. However, if global emissions are not reduced, temperatures may soar above three degrees Celsius by the year 2100, further harming our ecosystems irreparably. Sea levels are already rising as a result of the polar and alpine areas' glaciers and ice sheets melting more quickly than before. over 40% of people on Earth reside within 100 kilometres of a coast, and over two-thirds of cities with a population of five million or more are situated in regions at risk of sea level rise. If no action is taken, entire districts of New York, Shanghai, Abu Dhabi, Osaka, Rio de Janeiro, and many other cities could find themselves underwater within our lifetimes, displacing millions of people.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

One of the most important challenges of our day is climate change, which has profound effects on human rights. The enjoyment of many human rights, such as the rights to food, shelter, water, health care, and life, is impacted by climate change, creating a complicated and multidimensional relationship between climate change and human rights. Extreme weather events like hurricanes, droughts, and heatwaves are becoming more often and severe, which is a clear indication of how climate change affects human rights. Communities may suffer greatly as a result of these occurrences, with lives, homes, and livelihoods destroyed. The right to health is significantly impacted by climate change as well.

The spread of illnesses like dengue fever and malaria can be accelerated by warmer temperatures and altered precipitation patterns. In addition, climate change can have negative effects on mental health, including anxiety and trauma, and worsen pre-existing medical illnesses, like respiratory issues. Climate change also affects the right to food. Crop failures and lower yields can result from changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, which can also affect agricultural production. Food security may be significantly impacted by this, especially for groups who are already at risk. The right to water is also impacted by climate change. Water scarcity can impact drinking water and sanitation due to altered precipitation patterns and greater evaporation brought on by warmer temperatures.

The effects of climate change on human rights are obvious. However, in response to the issues presented by climate change, the international human rights framework has been sluggish. Although the 2015 Paris Agreement acknowledges the significance of human rights in relation to climate change, it offers no explicit framework for defending those rights. There have been some encouraging advancements in spite of this.

In light of climate change, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has acknowledged the significance of human rights and urged governments to take action to safeguard them from its effects. The Human Rights Council has also adopted resolutions recognizing the human rights implications of climate change. The impact of climate change on human rights is not limited to physical effects. Climate change can also have significant social and economic impacts, including displacement, migration, and loss of livelihoods:

Impact of Climate Change on the Right to Life in India

India's right to life is significantly impacted by climate change since it raises the possibility of fatalities and serious injuries from extreme weather occurrences. For example, the floods in Uttarakhand in 2013 caused thousands of people to be displaced and over 5,000 people to die. Similar to this, India's 2019 heatwave claimed over 3,000 lives, with the states of Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar suffering the most. These incidents show how severely climate change is affecting Indian human life and emphasise how urgently human rights must be protected.

Climate Change and the Right to Health in India

Impact of Climate Change on the Right to Food in India

Since climate change affects agricultural productivity and causes crop failures and lower yields, it has a substantial influence on India's right to food. For example, Maharashtra's 2015 drought caused severe crop failures, which resulted in malnutrition and food shortages. In a similar vein, food security was impacted by the substantial crop damage caused by the 2019 floods in eastern India. More work must be done to safeguard the right to food in the face of climate change, even if the Indian government's National Food Security Act 2013 attempts to ensure food security to populations that are at risk.

Climate Change and the Right to Water in India

Given its effects on precipitation patterns and water availability, climate change has a substantial impact on India's right to water. The 2018 water crisis in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, for instance, brought to light how susceptible cities are to water scarcity brought on by climate change. In a similar vein, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, had severe water shortages during the 2019 drought, which had an effect on people's livelihoods and health. The National Water Policy 2012 of the Indian government acknowledges the significance of managing and conserving water, but more work must be done to safeguard the right to water in the face of climate change.

Climate Change and Human Migration in India

Climate change has significant implications for human migration because it raises the risk of displacement and migration, climate change has a big impact on human migration in India. For example, hundreds of people were displaced when the 2017 Assamese floods caused them to leave their homes. In a similar vein, a large number of people moved to cities during the 2019 drought in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Although disaster risk reduction and management are important, more has to be done to safeguard the rights of climate migrants, according to the Indian government's 2009 National Disaster Management Policy.

A CATALYST FOR CONFLICT

Global peace and security are seriously threatened by climate change. Climate change impacts increase competition for resources like food, water, and land, which exacerbates social conflicts and, more frequently, results in mass relocation. Climate change is a risk multiplier that exacerbates pre-existing issues. Political instability and bloodshed are directly fuelled by droughts in Latin America and Africa. According to World Bank estimates, by 2050, over 140 million people in South Asia, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa may be compelled to migrate within their own regions if nothing is done. Climate change is undeniable, according to science, but there is still time to stop the trend. This will require fundamental transformations in all aspects of society — how we grow food, use land, transport goods, and power our economies.

Although technology has played a role in climate change, we can lower net emissions and make the planet cleaner with the help of innovative and effective technologies. More than 70%13 of today's emissions currently have readily available technical alternatives. Electric vehicles are on the verge of becoming commonplace, and renewable energy is currently the most affordable energy source in many locations.

While we address the decarbonisation of our economy, nature-based solutions offer "breathing room." In addition to supporting biodiversity, fresh water availability, essential ecosystem services, better livelihoods, nutritious diets, and food security, these solutions enable us to reduce some of our carbon footprint. Better farming methods, land restoration, conservation, and greening food supply chains are examples of nature-based solutions. We shall all be able to advance to a cleaner, more resilient world with the help of scalable new technologies and natural remedies. Together, governments, corporations, civic society, youth, and academia can build a green future that reduces suffering, upholds justice, and restores harmony between humans and the environment.

WHO IS REFERRED TO AS A 'CLIMATE REFUGEE'?

One of the most important challenges of our day is climate change, which has profound effects on human rights. The enjoyment of many human rights, such as the rights to food, shelter, water, health care, and life, is impacted by climate change, creating a complicated and multidimensional relationship between climate change and human rights. Extreme weather events like hurricanes, droughts, and heat waves are becoming more often and severe, which is a clear indication of how climate change affects human rights. Communities may suffer greatly as a result of these occurrences, with lives lost, homes, and livelihoods lost. The 2010 floods in Pakistan, for instance, which impacted more than 20 million people, brought to light how susceptible communities are to natural disasters brought on by climate change.

The right to health is significantly impacted by climate change as well. The spread of illnesses like dengue fever and malaria can be accelerated by warmer temperatures and altered precipitation patterns. In addition, climate change can have negative effects on mental health, including anxiety and trauma, and worsen pre-existing medical illnesses, like respiratory issues. Climate change also affects the right to food. Crop failures and lower yields can result from changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, which can also affect agricultural production. Food security may be significantly impacted by this, especially for groups who are already at risk. For instance, a severe drought in 2012 caused food shortages and hunger in the Sahel region of Africa. Climate change also affects the right to water. Changes in precipitation patterns and increased evaporation due to warmer temperatures can lead to water scarcity, affecting both drinking water and sanitation.

For instance, a serious water crisis in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2018 brought attention to how vulnerable cities are to water scarcity brought on by climate change. There are more than just physical repercussions of climate change on human rights. Significant social and economic effects of climate change may also include migration, relocation, and loss of livelihoods. The 2017 monsoon floods in Bangladesh, for instance, caused over 800,000 people to be moved, underscoring the susceptibility of communities to displacement brought on by climate change. The effects of climate change on human rights are obvious. However, in response to the issues presented by climate change, the international human rights framework has been sluggish. Although the 2015 Paris Agreement acknowledges the significance of human rights in relation to climate change, it offers no explicit framework for defending those rights. There have been some encouraging advancements in spite of this. In light of climate change, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has acknowledged the significance of human rights and urged governments to take action to safeguard them from its effects. Resolutions acknowledging the significance of climate change for human rights have also been adopted by the Human Rights Council.

INDIA’S CLIMBING RATE OF CLIMATE REFUGEES

Conflict and warfare for political or economic motives have always been linked to human displacement and the resulting misery. But more people are being displaced by climatic disasters and extreme weather occurrences than by conflicts and disturbances as a result of the environment's recent deterioration due to climate change. Millions of people worldwide have been displaced by climate-related disasters in the last ten years, calling them climate refugees. This is a new and alarming trend. The United Nations' 2022 World Migration Report charts the increasing number of people displaced by climate change-related catastrophes. 30.7 million people were displaced in 145 countries in 2020. The issue of nations experiencing internal displacement as a result of climate-related calamities is another. China reported five million new disaster-related displacements by the end of 2020, while the Philippines had the highest absolute figures of 5.1 million displacements brought on by natural disasters in 2020.

Floods caused 14.1 million displaced people, while storms caused 14.6 million. In 2020, 46,000 people were displaced by extreme temperatures, while 32,000 more were affected by droughts. Droughts produced roughly 2.4 million new displacements between 2008 and 2020, while severe temperatures caused about 1.1 million. According to a World Bank projection, events linked to climate change in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America will force 143 million people to migrate inside their countries by 2050.

According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), by 2059, droughts may force an additional 22 million people to migrate from Africa, 12 million from South America, and 10 million from Asia. These reports make it abundantly evident that displacement brought on by climate disasters is a growing issue and that the number of climate refugees is rising at an alarming rate each year. India in particular, is witnessing an uncontrollably high incidence of climate refugees.

According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), environmental and climatic calamities have caused the displacement of almost 1.4 crore persons in India. By 2050, more than 4.5 crore people will have to leave their homes due to the "costs of climate inaction," according to the report. According to Centre data, environmental calamities generated nearly 38 lakh new displacements in India in 2020—989 times more than the 3,900 displacements brought on by hostilities. The government must move quickly to develop a two-pronged policy of preventing environmental degradation and rehabilitating the climate refugees through efficient laws and regulations, considering the size of the climate refugee population in India. Numerous persons who have been displaced by climatic disasters in India currently lack an identification and access to assistance and rehabilitation since they are not specifically recognised by any laws.

There is glaringly few clear-cut legislation addressing the issue of climate refugees, even at the international level. In light of this situation, it would be wise for India to take the initiative and pass legislation in this area by establishing social programs and regulations that acknowledge the refugees' predicament and give them the opportunity to recover their lives, dignity, and means of subsistence. This innovative project would help India get prominence on the global stage and demonstrate its concern and action on a crucial issue on which no government in the world has taken any significant action. The two sides of the same coin are climate disasters and climate refugees. Unless effective measures start reining in climate change, people impacted by the same will keep getting displaced. When climate change wanes, climate disasters too will come down and so will the numbers of climate refugees.

WHERE DO WE STAND ON POLICY WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE REFUGEES?

Often, as is reflected in the IDMC data, displaced populations migrate within their countries, in which case they are referred to as 'internally displaced" and are protected under domestic laws. However, the absence of a uniform policy for internally displaced persons also lends itself to the broader ignorance towards the movement induced by climate change. This is muddled even further when people migrate to new lands and cross borders, often to nations that are devoid of frameworks for the rehabilitation and protection of climate refugees.

Presently, the enormity of internal displacements suggests that climate-driven movement will only worsen as the world grapples with an escalating climate emergency. The UN Global Compact on Migration (2018) provides a blueprint for people affected by the climate crisis aiding in "more predictable and equitable responsibility-sharing, recognizing that a sustainable solution to refugee situations cannot be achieved without international cooperation", however, this too is non-binding.

THE CURRENT SITUATION IN INDIA

India's increasing vulnerability towards the environmental crisis was evidenced this year in the aftermath of the cyclones which ravaged Maharashtra and West Bengal and the widespread flooding that ensued with the onset of monsoon. A report by Forbes India underlined that recently, the last two inhabited islands in the Sunderbans—Mousuni and Ghoramara—were evacuated due to rising sea levels and cyclones, which were rapidly leading to the submersion of habitable lands. The professor of oceanography at Jadavpur University Dr. Sugata Hazra was quoted in the report saying that, “Though research and media accounts have made the plight of the environmental migrants from the vanishing islands of the Sundarbans well-known in the last few decades, policy responses have been inadequate. There is no mechanism to recognise, record and register forced migrants, let alone a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate them. With victims of climate change being denied the status of refugee even today, one of the most pertinent issues that arise is that India might witness a large-scale influx of migrants from neighbouring countries (such as Bangladesh) as sea levels continue to rise. Without comprehensive national and international policies, the human cost of the climate crisis will not only be exacerbated owing to mismanagement but will be in danger of being entirely overlooked.

ASSESSING INDIA’S PREPAREDNESS AND LAWS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

The gloomy picture painted by the World Bank report, discussed previously, however, only presents a scenario that could arise if no action is taken on the part of the states that are at risk. India urgently requires climate policies to reverse the prediction. The necessity to prepare robust climate migration strategies assumes even greater importance in India because of a number of factors. The vast territorial extent of the country and the geographical diversity necessitates region-specific action plans. For example, the policy response required in case of temporary distress migration in a drought-affected area of Rajasthan will be different from that of permanent cross-border migration from across the border in Bangladesh as a consequence of loss of homes due to rising sea level.

Climate change has the potential to aggravate the prevailing agrarian distress and further accentuate a population transfer to urban areas. Furthermore, climate change or environmental disasters also affects different populations in different ways. Specific communities often bear the brunt of such crises. In the aftermath of the devastating floods in Bihar for example, relief camps built for the displaced were usurped and controlled by dominant upper castes. Similarly, in case of extreme air pollution in an urban centre such as New Delhi during winter, the poor cannot afford to relocate temporarily like some of the elites. This is a cruel manifestation of how some communities who lack economic resources or social capital are rendered more vulnerable than others.

This suggests that a targeted policy response is often mandated on behalf of the state to come the aid of the have-nots. Given the fact that the Indian government does not have a definite refugee policy at the moment and institutional responses are usually ad hoc measures, including occasional judicial interventions, it would be futile to expect a climate refugee policy overnight for cross-border migration. The Asylum Bill of 2015, the National Asylum Bill, 2015 and the Protection of Refugees and Asylum Seekers Bill, 2015 are some of the notable attempts that have been made in India to enact a suitable refugee law. However, the climate refugee question has not invited the attention in these instruments. The 2018 UN Global Compact should provide a timely reminder to incorporate this concern should India pursue a plan of formulating a comprehensive refugee law. Caution must also be duly exercised as a generalized refugee law may not have the requisite nuances to cater to the plight of refugees effectively. The protection of vulnerable communities who lack must assume special importance in this endeavor as they are the ones who bear the brunt of climate change or any environmental disaster. Furthermore, much like what New Zealand in the Pacific, India will also be a significant ‘destination country’ to climate-induced migration in the South Asian region in the years to come.

However, presently, it does not have any mechanism for providing short-term visas to those who are forced to migrate as a result of environmental factors. Scholars have argued that modification of existing migration policies of national governments can be a feasible immediate measure that can be undertaken while a country builds on its capacity to develop a new migration regime, taking into account the plight of environment refugees. While a refugee law may cater to the demands of cross-border migration of environment refugees, the plight of those internally displaced as a consequence of climate change must also not be overlooked. The Disaster Management Act, enacted in 2005, for example, envisages institutional mechanisms under its fold to deal with an internal environmental disaster. While, it is acknowledged that such generalized legislations offer flexibility to immediately counter an environmental disaster, it would be an overestimation to expect it to cater effectively to the plethora of crises that climate change may threaten to unleash in the long run within the country.

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF INDIA’S RESPONSE TO CLIMATE REFUGEES

India, one of the nations most at risk from climate change, has not done enough to address climate refugees. According to the International Organisation for Migration, up to 45 million people may migrate to India by 2050 as a result of climate change. To address the issue of climate refugees, the Indian government has not yet developed a comprehensive policy. One of India's biggest problems in responding to climate refugees is the absence of precise terminology. Existing legal frameworks like the 1951 Refugee Covenant and the UNHCR Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement do not offer adequate protection for climate refugees, and they are not recognised by international refugee law. This lack of recognition leaves climate refugees in a state of limbo, without access to basic rights and protections.

The 2009 National Disaster Management Policy of India recognises the possibility of displacement brought on by climate change, but it offers no concrete plan for dealing with the problem. The policy prioritises disaster response and relief over resilience-building and long-term adaptation. Moreover, climate refugees are not given any special protections or assistance because the policy does not acknowledge them as a separate group. Regarding climate change, the Indian government has also come under fire for its lack of accountability and openness. Although the government's 2008 National Action Plan on Climate Change lists a number of climate change-related activities, it lacks precise measures for tracking advancement or guaranteeing accountability.

It is challenging to evaluate the success of India's response to climate refugees because of this lack of accountability and openness. India's response to climate refugees is hampered by institutional and capability issues in addition to these policy limitations. It is challenging for the nation's disaster management organisations to properly respond to climate-related calamities because they are frequently underfunded and understaffed. In addition, the nation's social security services are ill-prepared to assist climate refugees, making them susceptible to hardship, starvation, and poverty. There are some encouraging advancements in India's response to climate refugees in spite of these obstacles.

For instance, the Indian government has launched several programs, including the Climate Change Adaptation Program and the National Adaptation Fund, to promote climate resilience and adaptation. Vulnerable communities receive vital assistance from these programs, which aid in their adaptation to the effects of climate change.

PROPOSED STRATEGIES AND FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS

A multimodal approach is necessary to address the complex problems provided by the interconnected issues of climate change, human rights, displacement, and climate refugees. Establishing a new protocol under the 1951 Refugee Convention to offer legal protection to those who have been forced across international borders as a result of climate change is one suggested tactic. The fact that climate refugees are not now recognised as a separate category under international refugee law would be addressed in part by this. Furthermore, humanitarian visas and national laws can offer short-term fixes to meet the urgent requirements of climate refugees. Addressing the issue of climate refugees also requires the involvement of regional human rights organisations.

These organisations ought to include people who have been displaced by climate change in their definition of refugees. This would make it possible to guarantee that climate refugees get the support and safety they require. Furthermore, it is imperative to address climate change as a primary source of displacement. This necessitates backing programs for climate adaptation and resilience, like the Climate Change Adaptation Program and the National Adaptation Fund. Addressing the effects of climate change on migration and displacement also requires international investment and collaboration. In order to address the effects of climate change on migration and displacement, the international community must offer sufficient financial resources and assistance. This entails fostering sustainable livelihoods, offering humanitarian aid, and encouraging the construction of climate-resilient infrastructure. The needs and opinions of climate refugees must be given top priority in future policy and decision-making processes.

This involves making that they have access to fundamental rights and amenities, including housing, healthcare, and education. To support successful policy responses, further data and research on migration and displacement brought on by climate change are also required. Communities can benefit from the creation of early warning systems and climate information services in terms of catastrophe preparedness and response. In the end, governments, international organisations, civil society, and local communities must work together in concert to solve the issues of climate change, human rights, displacement, and climate refugees.

Here are the proposed strategies and future considerations for addressing climate change, human rights, displacement, and climate refugees:

Formulate a Comprehensive Policy: India needs to formulate a comprehensive policy to address the issue of climate refugees, recognizing their distinct needs and vulnerabilities. This policy should:

Define climate refugees and their rights.
Establish a framework for identifying and protecting climate refugees.
Provide for the provision of basic needs such as food, water, shelter, and healthcare.
Address the specific needs of vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly.
Establish a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the policy. The policy should be developed in consultation with climate refugees, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to ensure that it is inclusive and effective.

Increase Transparency and Accountability: The government needs to increase transparency and accountability in addressing climate change, including clear metrics for measuring progress and ensuring accountability. This can be achieved by:

Establishing a national climate change dashboard to track progress on climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Developing a system for monitoring and reporting on climate-related displacement and migration.
Establishing an independent review mechanism to assess the effectiveness of climate change policies and programs.
Increasing public access to information on climate change policies and programs.
Strengthening parliamentary oversight and scrutiny of climate change policies and programs.

Invest in Institutional Capacity: India needs to invest in institutional capacity, including staffing and funding for disaster management institutions, to respond effectively to climate-related disasters. This can be achieved by:

Strengthening the National Disaster Management Authority. (NDMA) and the State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs)
Increasing funding for disaster management and climate change adaptation programs.
Recruiting and training personnel with expertise in climate change adaptation and disaster management.
Establishing partnerships with international organizations and NGOs to access expertise and resources.
Developing a national training program for disaster management and climate change adaptation.

Strengthen Social Protection Systems: The government needs to strengthen social protection systems, including support for climate refugees, to reduce their vulnerability to poverty, hunger, and other forms of deprivation. This can be achieved by:

Expanding existing social protection programs such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Establishing a national climate refugee support program to provide financial assistance, shelter, and other forms of support
Strengthening community-based initiatives and self-help groups to support climate refugees.
Increasing access to healthcare, education, and other essential services for climate refugees.
Establishing a national database of climate refugees to track their needs and provide targeted support.

Support Climate Resilience and Adaptation: India needs to continue supporting climate resilience and adaptation initiatives, such as the National Adaptation Fund and the Climate Change Adaptation Program, to help vulnerable communities adapt to the impacts of climate change. This can be achieved by:

Increasing funding for climate resilience and adaptation programs.
Supporting community-based adaptation initiatives and climate-resilient infrastructure development.
Promoting climate-resilient agriculture and water management practices.
Establishing partnerships with international organizations and NGOs to access expertise and resources.
Developing a national climate resilience and adaptation strategy to guide policy and programming efforts.

CONCLUSION AND WAY FORWARD

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. The whole system of environment is interdependent on each other. Human beings exploit resources without proper planning. Due to lack of proper utilization and uncontrolled use of natural resources, the world is at risk of Climate change, climate crisis and due to both problems the climate refugees arise day by day. Every corner of the world is facing problems related to climate. India is also facing many climate-related problems and mass displacement of masses due to climate change and climate crisis. After that, a question can arises as to whether India has a legal framework to deal with an impending crisis of refugee inflow or even large-scale internal displacement within the country as a result of climate change. India does not have any national legislation to specifically cater to this issue.

The question of immediate disaster management or temporary rehabilitation should not be the sole contention in response to tackling climate-induced migration within states and across international borders. The increasing threats of climate change and environmental disasters must be tackled in a holistic manner through the active collaboration within in the international community. At the domestic level, it is necessary that India diligently fulfills its international obligations pertaining to climate change and adopts appropriate legislative instruments.

The countries which are traditionally the primary contributors of climate change must be held accountable in this exercise through the application of collective international pressure by countries such as India, who are today the destination countries for climate refugees. Internally, India must involve the governments at the state level to offer a dynamic response to the involuntary displacement that is attributed to environmental factors. This is because the nature of environment-related migration is bound to vary across regions and accordingly, rehabilitation plans and other policy responses must be modified accordingly as per specific needs. The collaborative efforts of non-governmental organizations will also be crucial in this endeavour.

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REFERENCES:

International Organisation for Migration (IOM), World Migration Report 2020, Geneva: IOM, 2020.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, 1998.
The 1951 Refugee Convention, United Nations Treaty Collection, 1951.
World Health Organization (WHO), Climate Change and Human Health: Risks and Responses, Geneva: WHO, 2021.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) on Climate Change 2021, Geneva: IPCC, 2021.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Emissions Gap Report 2019, Nairobi: UNEP, 2019.
World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), State of the Global Climate 2019, Geneva: WMO, 2019.
Paris Agreement, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 2015.
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Climate Change and Human Rights, Geneva: OHCHR, 2015.
 Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), 2008.
 Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), Global Report on Internal Displacement 2021, Geneva: IDMC, 2021.
 World Bank, Groundswell: Preparing for Internal Climate Migration, Washington DC: World Bank, 2018.
 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Drought in Numbers Report 2022, Bonn: UNCCD, 2022.
 Government of India, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, National Policy for Farmers 2007, New Delhi: Government of India, 2007.
 National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Policy on Disaster Management 2009, New Delhi: Government of India, 2009

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