COMPLEMENTARY PROTECTION FOR PERSONS DISPLACED ACROSS BORDERS BY ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW
Keywords:
Complementary protection, Cross-border displacement, Environmental degradation, Human rights, International law.Abstract
Cross-border environmental displacement exposes a gap between protection against dangerous return and access to a legally secure stay. This article examines the role of complementary protection for individuals who do not qualify as refugees but may face serious harm if returned. Normative legal research employs treaty, conceptual, and case approaches, examining sources available through 2024. The analysis distinguishes binding human rights obligations from discretionary humanitarian measures and temporary protection arrangements. It finds that environmental degradation does not automatically establish eligibility, while refusal of refugee status does not resolve the legality of return. Protection requires examination of the applicable legal obligation, foreseeable harm, individual circumstances, and access to effective assistance. Teitiota v. New Zealand confirms the potential relevance of climate-related risks without creating a universal environmental protection status. The article proposes connecting risk assessment with documented permission to remain, appropriate treatment, review procedures, and solutions when displacement becomes prolonged. It concludes that complementary protection can translate existing non-refoulement duties into workable domestic arrangements, provided it preserves access to refugee protection and maintains a clear distinction between binding requirements and recommended policy design.
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