UCLA Journal of Environmental Law and Policy

In an era defined by climate crises and mounting barriers to cross-border movement, this Article examines the intricate relationships between climate change, displacement, and refugee protection in the United States. Through a comprehensive analysis, incorporating insights from interviews with asylum seekers from Mexico and Central America at the U.S.-Mexico border, we present case examples that highlight the convergence of climate change impacts with other drivers of displacement. Our assessment reveals how some individuals affected by climate-related displacement may qualify for refugee protection when climate change impacts intersect with and exacerbate persecution based on protected grounds under U.S. law. Nevertheless, the significant protection gaps for climate-displaced people underscore the urgent need for the development of additional protection pathways as climate change impacts increasingly drive movement across borders.