Ocean Group Seminar Series 2025 - The Plight of Climate Refugees: Rising Seas, Melting Ice, and Inadequate Legal Frameworks
Legal interaction between international environmental law and international human rights law to address the displacement of vulnerable communities caused by climate change.
Climate change impacts continue to displace vulnerable communities around the world with increasing frequency and intensity. Existing domestic and international legal frameworks are inadequate to confront the unfolding global climate change displacement crisis. The global community needs to bridge the divide between international environmental law and international human rights law frameworks to address this pressing issue at the forefront of global climate change adaptation and resilience. Climate displacement case studies within and outside the U.S. will be examined to expose the gaps in the legal frameworks and to explore possible solutions. Recommendations for enhanced U.S. federal agency responsibility for this crisis also will be considered.
About the speaker:
Randall Abate joined the George Washington University Law School in July 2022 as the Assistant Dean for Environmental Law Studies. He brings three decades of experience teaching, writing, managing programs, and mentoring students on domestic and international environmental law issues in various contexts.
Throughout his academic career, Dean Abate has taught courses in domestic and international environmental law, climate change law and justice, ocean and coastal law, constitutional law, torts, and animal law.