Climate change isn’t a new phenomenon. For years, the media has flooded us with images of raging wildfires in California and Australia, prolonged droughts in South Asia and East Africa, and polar bears starving in the Arctic. But much less is discussed about what happens to the people whose homes have vanished, whose livelihoods were destroyed, and who were forced to migrate because of climate change. One hidden consequence is increased vulnerability to human trafficking among what we now call “climate refugees.” You may have heard of the term “climate refugee,” but what you may not know is that the term is politically problematic. In order to be legally classified as refugees, people must be fleeing persecution or violence and must cross a national border. Countries are then obligated by international law to admit them. However, the narrow definition excludes those who are displaced within their own countries, or who choose to leave their countries due to environmental reasons … [Read more...] about The Human Cost of Climate Change