World Urged to Prepare Now for 50 Million Environmental Refugees

[struggle4progress]

BONN, Germany, October 11, 2005 (ENS) - Within the next five years, as many as 50 million people will be environmental refugees, on the move to escape the effects of creeping environmental deterioration, according to United Nations University experts.

In a statement released to mark UN Day for Disaster Reduction on Wednesday, the UNU’s Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) in Bonn says problems such as sea level rise, expanding deserts, and flooding induced by catastrophic weather events have already contributed to large permanent migrations and "could eventually displace hundreds of millions" of people. <snip>

Environmental refugees must be distinguished from economic migrants, who depart voluntarily to find a better life but may return home without persecution, Professor van Ginkel says. <snip>

In some instances the migration is planned for in advance. The low-lying Pacific island country of Tuvalu has struck an agreement with New Zealand to accept its 11,600 citizens in the event rising sea levels swamp the country. <snip>

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/oct2005/2005-10-11-01.asp