International climate refugees: Policy options for Canada

Migration flows emerging from displacement caused by climate change have been the subject of continued legal and academic debates, but those affected by climate-induced displacement remain ineligible for current refugee or humanitarian protection mechanisms. With Canada planning for increased immigration, including of refugees and protected persons, having endorsed the United Nations' Global Compacts on Refugees and Migration, and yet facing shortfalls on current refugee targets, there is an opportunity to explore new streams for the admission of climate-displaced persons by way of complementary protection mechanisms. Informed by Canadian, European, and New Zealand case studies, this paper conducts a multi-criteria analysis of several policy options and recommends the expansion of Canada's existing Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot program with a dedicated stream for climate-displaced persons, administered in partnership with trusted non-governmental organizations.