THE MANAGEMENT OF CLIMATE-INDUCED MIGRATION IN THE CONTEXT OF HUMAN RIGHTS: NEW ZEALAND – PACIFIC ISLANDS CASE

Year 2020, Special Issue: Migration, 71 - 84, 30.12.2020

Özden Öz

Abstract

In the wake of the Covid-19 crisis sweeping the world globally, the concept of the global has gained popularity. In that sense, the other global problem that has the potential to cause the economic, social, political crisis is climate change. Climate change cannot be considered as a unidimensional issue but related to migration, social-public policies, human rights. Estimates suggest that millions of people face the risk of forced migration in the next few decades. There is no direct link between climate change and migration. The lack of access to human rights also matters. That is why I take international hybrid law meaning the interrelation of the environmental law, human rights and migration law (Corendea, 2018) into account. Considering that mitigation strategies alone will not be sufficient to control climate change, adaptation strategies should also be taken into account. In this way, the political and social aspects of climate change can be discussed along with its technical dimension. Today, international actors are slow to offer policy solutions in the climate-induced migration. Finding a global solution looks like a remote possibility. The humanitarian visa for Pacific Islanders heavily affected by climate change was the new and important step announced by New Zealand. However, not long after, New Zealand understood that this climate refugee plan does not work very well as taking refugee is the last option for Pacific Islanders. In this context, New Zealand, which has launched the ODA program, sets an example of good governance by developing investment plans in the Pacific Islands on climate change, sustainability, renewable energy, regional security, human rights. This case shows the importance of regional adaptation strategies to manage the climate crisis and its effects. To adopt a human-centred climate-induced migration policy in the context of human rights, we have to take into account the priorities of the subjects of the issue. Bilateral agreements or regional development projects against climate change can be an instrumental tool. In this way, regional policies may also increase the effectiveness of global policies.  

Keywords

Climate-induced migration, Climate change, Adaptation strategies, Human rights

İNSAN HAKLARI BAĞLAMINDA İKLİM KAYNAKLI GÖÇ YÖNETİMİ: YENİ ZELANDA – PASİFİK ADALARI VAKASI

Abstract

Dünyayı küresel olarak şiddetli biçimde etkileyen Covid-19 krizinin ardından, küresel konsepti gerek siyasal gerek toplumsal düzeyde popülarite kazandı. Covid-19 kriziyle birlikte gündemde daha fazla yer kaplayan ve çeşitli ekonomik, sosyal, siyasal sonuçlara gebe olan diğer küresel kriz ise iklim değişikliği. Bu yönden iklim değişikliği tek boyutlu bir mesele değil; göç, sosyal-kamusal politikalar, insan hakları gibi başlıklarla ilişkili olarak ele alınmalı. Tahminler gelecek birkaç on yıl içinde milyonlarca insanın iklim değişikliğinden kaynaklı zorunlu göç riskiyle karşı karşıya kalacağını gösteriyor. Ancak iklim değişikliği ile göç arasında direkt bir ilişki olmamakla birlikte, insan haklarına erişim yoksunluğu da iklim kaynaklı göçte önem taşıyor. Bu nedenle çevre hukuku, insan hakları, göç hukuku arasındaki karşılıklı ilişki anlamına gelen (Corendea, 2018) uluslararası hibrit hukuk kavramı hesaba katılmalı. İklim değişikliği konusunda sadece azaltım politikalarının krizi kontrol altına almadaki yetersizliğinden hareketle adaptasyon stratejileri de göz önüne alınmalı. Bu yolla iklim değişikliğinin teknik boyutuyla birlikte sosyal ve politik boyutu da değerlendirilmeli. Bugün, uluslararası aktörler iklim kaynaklı göçe yönelik politikaların geliştirilmesi konusunda hantal. Diğer yandan, iklim değişikliğinden derinden etkilenen Pasifik Adalılara yönelik Yeni Zelanda’nın başlattığı insani vize ilk kez bir ulus devlet tarafından atılan önemli bir adım. Ancak, çok geçmeden, Yeni Zelanda mülteci olma durumunun Pasifik Adalıların son çaresi olduğunu anlayarak bu planın iklim göçünde etkin bir politika olmadığını kavradı. Bu kapsamda ODA programını devreye sokan Yeni Zelanda başlıca iklim değişikliği, sürdürülebilirlik, yenilenebilir enerji, bölgesel güvenlik, insan hakları üzerine Pasifik Adalarına yatırım planları geliştirerek iyi yönetişim örneği sergiliyor. Bu durum iklim krizinin yönetiminde önleyici bölgesel adaptasyon stratejilerinin önemini gösteriyor. Bu sayede iklim kaynaklı göçün öznelerinin önceliklerini önemseyen, insanı merkeze alan iklim göçü politikalarının daha verimli olduğu anlaşılıyor. Bu noktada, iklim değişikliğine karşı yapılan ikili anlaşmalar enstrümantal rol oynayabilir. Ayrıca bölgesel kültürel, toplumsal, coğrafi farklılıkların varlığının tanınması anlamında bölgesel politikalar daha cazip görünüyor. Buradan hareketle, bölgesel politikalar küresel politikaların verimliliğini de arttırabilir.

Keywords

İklim Kaynaklı Göç, İklim Değişikliği, Adaptasyon Stratejileri, İnsan Hakları

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