Abstract:

According to scientists global warming will yield rise in sea level, desertification in some areas, and floods in others, all of which will imply that millions will have to be evacuated from their homes and never return to them. To this I refer here as "environmental displacement." Some people argue that displacement (whether or not due to global warming) is not the end of the world, since people often move from one place to another, whereas others argue that displacement is tragic, at least for the displaced. I subscribe to the latter view. However, most people who picture environmental displacement as tragic do so because they regard displacement as yet another case of environmental injustice, in the sense that some people will be displaced while others will not. Thus, these people claim, the world has to prepare to compensate displaced people.