in English - Environmental migrants The purpose of my thesis is to analyse both the status quo as well as the possible evolution of the policy framework of the environmental migration. The thesis is composed of five chapters, each of them dealing with different aspects of environmental migration. Chapter one is introductory and describes an overview of the historical content of environmental migration. Environmental migration is not a new phenomenon. Natural and human-made environmental disasters have caused migration of people in the past and continue to do so. This chapter addresses the linkage between environment and migration, which led to the elaboration of a typology of environmental migration. Chapter two characterises the most frequently used definitions of environmental migrants. Environmental migration has been the subject of lively debate in recent years but there is still no internationally agreed definition of environmental migrant. Chapter three examines relevant current legislation concerned to environmental migration. It discusses refugee law, statelessness, humanitarian law and human rights law. The current legal framework for dealing with the issues surrounding environmental migration is underdeveloped. Chapter four concentrates on possible proposed protection regimes. This...

Environmentally induced migration has been a contentious topic over the last two decades. Estimates show that over 30 million people worldwide are annually forced to migrate due to serious environmental degradation, natural disasters and depletion of natural resources. Thus the environment is irrefutably changing, and clear linkages can be drawn between environmental change and human mobility. Africa‘s developing status and its vulnerability in the context of environmental shocks compels research on prospective impacts and outcomes in order to develop proper mitigation and adaptation strategies, especially in Southern African Development Community (SADC) where the likelihood of protection measures being successfully implemented is relatively low. This dissertation is aimed at providing the reader with a detailed analysis of the regional normative framework regulating the issue of environmentally induced migration in SADC. Because environmental migrants are not considered to be ―refugees‖ in international law and on account of the fact that many policy makers and practitioners have their reservations as regards even acknowledging the existence of environmental migrants, protection and regulation in this regard is understandably lacking. A comprehensive framework is nonetheless required to regulate this phenomenon as it prompts serious security and sovereignty concerns. Until quite recently, most African countries had not even put in place national migration policies. Although many states have policies in place now, most have not yet been fully and effectively implemented. The normative framework governing specifically environmentally induced migration in SADC similarly renders rather disappointing results. Most of the applicable instruments do not directly raise the issue and the provisions indirectly touching upon the subject matter are subject to interpretation. A binding protocol must therefore be adopted by SADC Member States embracing elements contained in the instruments comprising the current framework. Such a protocol will however have to be liberal enough to acknowledge and provide for environmentally induced migration in its entirety whilst conservative enough so as not to undermine protection regimes for refugees in the true sense of the word. Conflicting interests and sovereignty considerations will, however, undoubtedly continue to hinder progress in this regard. The way forward is therefore away from ultimate sovereignty preservation and toward a regionalised approach where human rights no longer take a backseat. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Environmentally induced migration has been a contentious topic over the last two decades. Estimates show that over 30 million people worldwide are annually forced to migrate due to serious environmental degradation, natural disasters and depletion of natural resources. Thus the environment is irrefutably changing, and clear linkages can be drawn between environmental change and human mobility. Africa‘s developing status and its vulnerability in the context of environmental shocks compels research on prospective impacts and outcomes in order to develop proper mitigation and adaptation strategies, especially in Southern African Development Community (SADC) where the likelihood of protection measures being successfully implemented is relatively low. This dissertation is aimed at providing the reader with a detailed analysis of the regional normative framework regulating the issue of environmentally induced migration in SADC. Because environmental migrants are not considered to be ―refugees‖ in international law and on account of the fact that many policy makers and practitioners have their reservations as regards even acknowledging the existence of environmental migrants, protection and regulation in this regard is understandably lacking. A comprehensive framework is nonetheless required to regulate this phenomenon as it prompts serious security and sovereignty concerns. Until quite recently, most African countries had not even put in place national migration policies. Although many states have policies in place now, most have not yet been fully and effectively implemented. The normative framework governing specifically environmentally induced migration in SADC similarly renders rather disappointing results. Most of the applicable instruments do not directly raise the issue and the provisions indirectly touching upon the subject matter are subject to interpretation. A binding protocol must therefore be adopted by SADC Member States embracing elements contained in the instruments comprising the current framework. Such a protocol will however have to be liberal enough to acknowledge and provide for environmentally induced migration in its entirety whilst conservative enough so as not to undermine protection regimes for refugees in the true sense of the word. Conflicting interests and sovereignty considerations will, however, undoubtedly continue to hinder progress in this regard. The way forward is therefore away from ultimate sovereignty preservation and toward a regionalised approach where human rights no longer take a backseat. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Depuis quelques années, le réchauffement climatique est un thème qui fait l’objet de plusieurs débats houleux. Mais à l’heure actuelle, il est difficile d’affirmer avec certitude que le réchauffement climatique et les catastrophes qui se multiplient, ces derniers temps, en sont les conséquences évidentes. Toutefois, il ne fait l’ombre d’aucun doute que ces catastrophes naturelles ou celles d’origine anthropique ont des incidences avérées sur l’environnement et le milieu de vie humain. C’est le cas dans le Pacifique avec les îles du Tuvalu exposées à la montée du niveau de la mer, à l’érosion et même à la disparition. C’est aussi le cas dans le Sahel avec le lac Tchad qui, en raison d’une baisse de la pluviométrie, de la sécheresse et d’une mauvaise gestion de ses eaux, connait un rétrécissement inquiétant, obligeant ainsi, des milliers de personnes à migrer dans l’espace du bassin conventionnel du lac Tchad partagé entre le Nigéria, le Niger, le Cameroun et le Tchad. Ces mouvements internes et transfrontaliers mal encadrés sont sources de tensions et d’insécurité. Cette situation semble peu préoccuper les pays touchés, moins encore les pays riches et la communauté internationale, qui en l’absence de tout cadre juridico-humanitaire et d’un statut protecteur international, montrent peu de signe d’empressement pour trouver des solutions afin d’assister les réfugiés et déplacés climatiques et environnementaux qui risquent d’être lésés dans leur droit à la vie et à une vie décente. En raison du vide juridique au niveau international, il serait souhaitable de faire un état des lieux des possibilités actuelles de protection juridique universelle et régionale avant de revenir vers des pistes de solutions adaptées aux besoins spécifiques de l’Afrique par le biais de l’Union Africaine. Une option audacieuse mais qui vaut la peine en raison du contexte actuel qui impose une recherche de solutions scientifiques et juridiques pouvant aider à l’action des décideurs politiques. / In recent years, global warming has been the subject of several heated debates. But, it is currently difficult to affirm with certainty that global warming and the increase in natural disasters in recent times are the obvious consequences. However, there is no doubt that these natural disasters or those caused by human activities have a proven impact on the environment and the living environment. This is the case in the Pacific with the Tuvalu islands which have been exposed to rising sea levels, erosion and even extinction. This is also the case in the Sahel region where due to a decline in rainfall, drought and poor management of its waters, the Lake Chad is experiencing a disturbing contraction, forcing thousands of people whose life depends on it to migrate in the space of the conventional basin of Lake Chad shared between Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad. These poorly managed internal and cross-border movements are sources of tension and insecurity. This situation does not appear to be of sufficient concern to the countries affected by these changes, and even less to the developed countries and the international community, which in the absence of any legal and humanitarian framework and international protective status, show no signs of eagerness to find temporary or permanent solutions to assist climate and environmental refugees and environmentally displaced persons whomay be harmed in their right to life and decent life. Due to the current legal vacuum at the international level, it would be desirable to take stock of the current possibilities of universal and regional legal protection before returning to possible solutions adapted to the specific needs of Africa, through the African Union. This is a bold but worthwhile option because of the current context that requires a search for scientific and legal solutions that can help policy makers.