Published Paper Details:

Climate change has become one of the most significant forces shaping contemporary discussions on human rights, intersecting with environmental law, development studies, and ethical governance. While the 1951 Refugee Convention protects those fleeing persecution, it does not encompass individuals and communities forced from their homes by climate-induced disasters such as rising sea levels, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather events. These climate-displaced communities occupy a regulatory gray area, often unable to claim formal protection under traditional refugee or human rights frameworks. At the same time, environmental justice movements around the globe have called for equitable distribution of environmental benefits and burdens, emphasizing participation and redress for historically marginalized groups. This article argues that the future of human rights hinges on an integrated approach that recognizes environmental degradation and climate change not merely as ecological or economic problems but as fundamental human rights crises. Through an in-depth examination of philosophical underpinnings, the evolution of international and national human rights regimes, and the practical dilemmas of forced migration, this piece explores how to reconcile state sovereignty with transnational obligations. It examines the inadequacy of current legal instruments--focusing on how human rights treaties, climate accords, and domestic constitutions fail to protect climate refugees--and proposes pathways toward a rights-based climate displacement framework. Empirical examples highlight communities in low-lying island nations, flood-prone deltas, and drought-stricken rural regions. Policy recommendations urge binding treaties for corporate accountability, expanded refugee definitions or new environmental displacement protocols, and community-driven adaptation efforts ensuring that environmental solutions align with the principles of dignity, participation, and non-discrimination. Ultimately, bridging environmental justice and established human rights doctrines offers a moral, legal, and pragmatic route to uphold the dignity of climate-displaced populations while fostering sustainable development and global solidarity.