Climate Refugees Cannot Be Sent Home, Rules UN The landmark decision was announced by the UN's Human Rights Committee.
It relates to a case in which a man sought asylum in New Zealand due to the risk of his home island being submerged by the sea.
Though the committee ruled against the man, it stated that denying asylum to those whose lives are in imminent danger could be a human rights violation.
U.N.
Human Rights Committee, via CNN A 2018 World Bank study found that 143 million people around the world are at risk of being forced to leave their home countries due to climate change.
U.N.
Human Rights Committee, via CNN The U.N.
Decision is likely to have a dramatic impact on future asylum claims related to climate change.