Greens climate refugee bill welcomed

Friends of the Earth Australia - Climate Justice Campaign
MEDIA RELEASE - 21 June 2006

Friends of the Earth Australia welcomes the introduction, by Greens Senator Kerry Nettle, of a private members bill to formally recognise and create mechanisms to deal with climate refugees from Pacific Island nations. The bill, which will be introduced today, proposes an  amendment to the Migration Act to insert a new visa class called a ‘climate refugee visa’ for people displaced due to the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels.

“Australia, as one of the greatest per capita greenhouse gas emitters, is disproportionately responsible for climate change. The establishment of a climate refugee visa in would go some way towards facing up to our responsibilities to act on this issue” said Friends of the Earth’s climate justice spokesperson, Emma Brindal.

Pacific Island nations are some of the world’s most vulnerable nations to the impacts of climate change. Rising seas are already causing some Pacific Islanders to relocate their homes, such as the inhabitants of Tegua Island in Vanuatu and the Carteret Islands in Papua New Guinea.

“For most Pacific Islanders, leaving their homeland is the last thing they want to do. But for some, there will be no choice” said Ms Brindal. To date however, the Howard government has ignored the requests of Pacific Island nations for assistance. In October 2006, at the Pacific Islands

Forum in Fiji, the Howard government refused to meet the government of Tuvalu to discuss the climate change crisis. Tuvalu is one of the world’s most vulnerable nations to sea level rise as its highest point is less than 5metres above sea level.

“New Zealand has already established a limited migration program for
Pacific Island nations most vulnerable to the impacts sea level rise due to climate change. It is time Australia followed suit” said Ms Brindal.

The introduction of this bill follows UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s recognition that the slaughter in Darfur in the Sudan was triggered partly by global climate change and that more such conflicts may be on the horizon.

Worldwide, it is estimated that there will be 150 - 200 million climate
refugees by 2050, with one million people displaced from small island states. These numbers can be limited if deep and urgent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are made. For Australia, this would require a short term target of reducing emissions by at least 40% by 2020.

“Australia should also assist financially in relocating climate refugees who have to move within countries. The people of the Carteret Islands in Papua New Guinea are soon to permanently evacuate to Bougainville Island, due at least partly to rising sea levels. The cost of moving families will be borne by the Autonomous Bougainville Government. However, with limited funds, the government will be unable to supply extra funds for health services or for new teachers in the local school to accommodate the Carteret Islanders” said Ms Brindal.

Notes to editor:
1. The term climate refugee refers to both people displaced from their nations as well as those displaced within nations
2. The ALP recently included in its draft electoral platform policies to establish an international coalition of Pacific Rim nations to accept climate refugees and to assist with intra-country relocations when citizens have to be moved from low-lying areas to higher ground.

More information:
Emma Brindal 0411 084 727
Cam Walker 0419 338 047

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