Bogumil Terminski Environmentally-Induced Displacement ... - Cedem

(catastrophes) as one of the prerequisites to apply for asylum. According to the SwedishAliens Act of 2005 (Chapter 4, Section 3) the people who are "unable to return to the countryof origin because of an environmental disaster" are described as persons in "need forprotection" 31 . The Aliens Act of Finland, adopted in 2004, refers to the problem in twodifferent sections (section 88a- Humanitarian Protection and section 109 – TemporaryProtection). In accordance with the section 88, environmental disaster may be a prerequisiteto apply for asylum in the absence of the possibility of returning to his/her country of origin orformer residence 32 .Towards recognition and protection of forced environmental migrants in the publicinternational law. Refugee or IDPs umbrella?Theoretical considerations: classifying environmentally induced forced displacementGiven the nature of the displacement processes observed recently, it seems reasonable todistinguish three types of forced internal displacement. These include:1. Conflict-induced displacement (usually resulting from the dynamics of internalarmed conflicts and long-term discrimination). We can call these internally displacedpeople (IDPs) either “conflict-induced displaced persons” or “conflict-inducedinternally displaced people”. People displaced due to political conflicts are also called“persons displaced by conflicts”, “politically displaced persons”, “internal refugees”,“political refugees”, “internally displaced persons” (only in a political context). Theinternal displacement is also rooted in ethnic, religious, national and racialdiscrimination.2. Environmentally-induced displacement (following a permanent, interim, orsudden change in environmental conditions relevant for human functioning). We cancall these displaced people: “environmentally-induced displaced people”,“environmental refugees”, “environmental displacees”, “environmentally-induceddisplaced persons” (EDPs), “environmentally-displaced populations”,31See: Aliens Act (2005:716) available at: http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/06/61/22/bfb61014.pdf32See: Aliens Act ((301/2004, amendments up to 1152/2010 included) available at:http://www.finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/2004/en20040301.pdf