The climate is currently changing at an accelerated rate, resulting in more extreme weather events, rapidly rising sea levels, and more severe and prolonged droughts. Climate change not only significantly impacts the environment, but also political, economic, social and legal systems, as well as ways of life for many people. Anthropogenic (human-generated) climate change, more particularly looking at human migration and displacement stemming from it and the possibility of an increase in human trafficking of those concerned, is leaving people around the world in a state of vulnerability, as many are left homeless and their livelihoods and their sense of well-being are destroyed. Some choose to migrate to better climates or to places where livelihoods and habitation are more secure; some have no choice; some may get trapped in uncertainty.

FORCED DISPLACEMENT IN THE ANTHROPOCENE

Human trafficking is not a new phenomenon. Arguably, it amounts to a global industry that moves millions of people each year, achieving an annual turnover of billions of dollars. With climate change creating inhabitable environments, forcing people to migrate, it essentially leaves them displaced. The environmental impact of climate change not only interrupts the general flow of weather patterns, it has also become a force for mass migration. The extremities contribute to the displacement that has been unprecedented. According to the IOM, “current estimates range between 25 million and 1 billion people by 2050”, regarding human population displacement. These numbers display a potentially staggering increase in displacement, representing the severity of the issue at hand.

As the increasing flow of migration continues and climate change worsens, displacement will leave victims vulnerable and open to exploitation. According to the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, “Every year 30 million people worldwide are forced to move because of serious degradation of environmental conditions, natural disasters and depletion of natural resources”. Human trafficking, being a rather lucrative industry, will grow as more people are easily open to exploitation. As the increasing flow of migration continues and climate change effects worsen, displacement will leave victims vulnerable and open to exploitation. With very few protections in place society will continue to grow more divisive, with displacement estimated to increase at a ten-fold rate. Displaced people are willing to take risks for the sake of surviving but human traffickers can easily use their vulnerability to their advantage and exploit their fundamental human rights.

NECESSARY INTERNATIONAL RESPONSES

The current international legal regime and international institutions are inadequate to deal with this issue. If we want to protect climate migrants and their rights, we must acknowledge that there is a need to create support facilities and pathways that assist communities to adapt to climate change, including by moving somewhere safer. Furthermore, the international community has a duty to raise awareness on this issue, not least to make people vigilant in choosing safer migratory routes. However, these safe migratory routes are only possible if they can be designed proactively and cooperatively.