Environmental Migration and the Need for Legal Regulation

Abstract

Environmental migration has emerged as one of the most pressing global phenomena of the twenty-first century, challenging the traditional notions of migration, displacement, and international protection. As climate change intensifies, millions of people are being forced to leave their homes due to rising sea levels, droughts, floods, and other ecological disasters. However, the current international legal system lacks a coherent and binding framework to regulate the status, rights, and obligations of such migrants. This article explores the conceptual foundations of environmental migration, examines the gaps in existing legal instruments, and advocates for the development of a comprehensive international and national legal regime to address this emerging humanitarian and security challenge. The study employs doctrinal, comparative, and normative approaches to evaluate how states, international organizations, and regional systems can harmonize their efforts toward legally recognizing and protecting environmental migrants. Special attention is given to the case of Central Asia and the Republic of Uzbekistan, which faces increasing desertification and water scarcity as a result of climate change.