Navigating Climate Displacement: Refugee Protection, International Law, and Regional Responses in Latin America

Climate-induced displacement is a growing global issue, particularly in the Global South, where limited adaptive capacities and socioeconomic inequalities exacerbate vulnerabilities. While the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol do not explicitly address climate-related displacement, the 1984 Cartagena Declaration offers a broader framework, though its applicability to such cases remains unclear. This research examines gaps in international and regional legal frameworks and explores opportunities for addressing climate-induced displacement in Latin America. By analyzing the Cartagena Declaration and case studies from Argentina and Brazil, which have implemented humanitarian visas for climate-displaced individuals, the study identifies pathways for expanding protections and developing adaptive mechanisms to bridge existing gaps.