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New Urban Agenda: Climate Refugees and International Responsibilities

Ayse Ozcan 1 and Eric J. Strauss 2
1. Giresun University Faculty of Economics and Administrative SciencesGure 28200 Giresun, Turkey
2. Michigan State University SPDC Urban Planning East Lansing 48823 MI, USA

Abstract—In this study, climate refugees are considered as one of the new urban agenda issues of the 21st century. Thus, the study seeks to highlight the legal status of the concept of “climate refugees” and the position of United Nations as a global arranger, and reveals whether the existing international framework is covering climate refugees issue adequate or not. The offering of the certain solutions related the climate refugee problematic is largely beyond the main aim of this study, but it is apparent that without cooperation between states and international organizations and the conceptual convention, the issue will remain insoluble. This paper has three main parts: In the first part, it will be scrutinized that the conceptual issues and terminology related the issue; and in the second part international legal literature and correspondingly in the third part the position and the potential of United Nations on the issue will be discussed. 

Index Terms—climate change refugees, climate change framework, environmental refugees, new urban agenda, new urban and environmental rights, united nations

Cite: Ayse Ozcan and Eric J. Strauss, "New Urban Agenda: Climate Refugees and International Responsibilities," International Journal of Structural and Civil Engineering Research, Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 368-377, November 2018. doi: 10.18178/ijscer.7.4.368-377