As the world approaches the 2024 US presidential election, Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House is reverberating with implications for climate change and its threatening byproduct: climate refugees. The past decade has been a stark reminder of the impacts of environmental disasters and conflict on human displacement, and has painted a sobering picture of what the future may hold if urgent action is not taken.

Historical and current status of refugees

The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, as expanded by the 1967 Protocol, was the cornerstone of the protection of those forced to flee their homes due to persecution, conflict or violence. Despite this international consensus on the right to seek refuge, the world witnessed a staggering 82.4 million forcibly displaced people at the end of 2023. This number includes refugees, internally displaced persons and asylum seekers, with a significant number displaced by conflict and systemic violence. (Nitish Verma)