Disasters, Environment and Mobility
Disasters linked to natural hazards can be rapid-onset, such as storms, earthquakes, drought, floods and volcanoes, or slow-onset, such as environmental degradation and temperature extremes. The frequency, intensity and duration of weather-related hazards are only likely to increase as a result of climate change. Although most mobility linked to these disasters will take place with countries, the potential for cross-border population movements as a consequence of these disasters has attracted considerable public attention and led to fierce debate among academics.
This project seeks to better understand both the empirical aspects of this strand of human mobility and the legal and policy responses of States. The project has focused particularly on the Americas, a region where these empirical dynamics and State responses are becoming increasingly evident. It illustrates how many countries in the Americas already use existing national immigration and refugee law to provide a novel humanitarian response to cross-border migrants affected by major disasters. The project has contributed directly to international, regional and national legal and policy efforts to promote a coherent response to cross-border mobility in this context.
Key publications and other outputs
- D.J. Cantor and B. Sánchez-Mojica, ‘In Pursuit of Coherence: International Rules on Internal Displacement across Conflict and Disaster Settings’ (2022) World Bank KNOMAD Working Paper
- RLI Working Group, ‘Addressing the human rights implications of climate change displacement’ (submission to the Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the context of Climate Change, 2022)
- D.J. Cantor, Comments to Argentina Migration Directorate on draft Disposition on Mass Influx due to Socio-Natural Disasters (2022)
- D.J. Cantor, ‘Disaster Relief and Human Mobility: Promoting Policy Coherence’ (2022) 69 Forced Migration Review 28
- D.J. Cantor, ‘Environment, Mobility and International Law: A New Approach in the Americas’ (2021) 21(2) Chicago Journal of International Law 263 [OA]
- D.J. Cantor, Comments to UNHCR on its Draft Legal considerations on claims for refugee status related to the adverse effects of climate change and the impact of disasters (2020)
- D.J. Cantor, Study on Cross-Border Displacement, Climate Change and Disasters: Latin America and the Caribbean (PDD/UNHCR, 2019 – 2014 Brazil Plan of Action)
- South American Conference on Migration, Regional guidelines on the protection and assistance of cross-border displaced persons and migrants in countries affected by disasters (2018) (contribution to drafting)
- D.J. Cantor and W. Kälin, ‘The RCM Guide: A Novel Protection Tool for Cross-Border Disaster- Displacement in the Americas’ (2017) 56 Forced Migration Review 58
- D.J. Cantor, ‘Use of Temporary Humanitarian Protection in the Americas for Natural Disasters prompting Cross-border Movements’ in UNHCR, The State of the World's Refugees (2016)
- D.J. Cantor, ‘Migrants and Natural Disasters: National Law, Policy and Practice in the Americas’ (2016) IOM Migration, Environment and Climate Change Policy Brief Series
- D.J. Cantor, Migrants in Countries in Crisis: Regional Discussion Paper on Latin America (2015)
- D.J. Cantor, ‘Disasters, Displacement and a New Framework in the Americas’ (2015) 49 Forced Migration Review 37
- Regional Conference on Migration, Guidelines: Protection for persons moving across borders in the context of disasters (2016) (contribution to drafting)
- D.J. Cantor, ‘Law, Policy and Practice concerning the Humanitarian Protection of Aliens on a Temporary Basis in the context of Disasters: States of the Regional Conference on Migration and Others in the Americas’ (for Nansen Initiative)
Key institutional activities
- RLI Working Group on Climate Change, Disasters and Displacement (created 2022)
- RLI 11th annual seminar series on “Human Mobility, Natural Hazards and Policy Responses” (2020, with PDD)
- Contribution to drafting South American Conference on Migration, Regional guidelines (2018, see above)
- Contribution to drafting Regional Conference on Migration, Guidelines (2016, see above)
- RLI/Nansen Initiative Inter-Governmental Workshop on “Temporary Humanitarian Protection for Natural Disasters in South America” (Government of Ecuador, Quito, 2015)
The work between 2012 and 2015 was supported by Economic and Social Research Council Future Research Leaders grant (PI: Cantor - ES/K001051/1) and carried out in partnership with the Nansen Initiative.