Climate refugees, or people who are displaced by the impacts of climate change are better served by the Nansen Initiative and not by the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees,
This has been clarified by officials of an advisory group on climate change and human mobility.
The advisory group comprising seven UN and other organisations that work with refugees and environmentally displaced people provide technical support and advice on human mobility in the context of climate change to parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
"The 1951 Convention on the status of refugees does not cover people who flee climate change effects," coordinator of the advisory group on climate change and human mobility Marine Franck told journalists covering the COP21 in Paris.
"It only covers people who flee conflicts and persecutions. Of course people who flee climate change effects are also entitled to protection and assistance but instead of broadening the current refugee convention, instead of this top down approach, we would rather encourage a bottom up approach.