[Greens-Media] Bob Brown - Australia should open door for climate refugees

[Kelly, Russell (Sen B. Brown)]

		12 November 2008

	
	Australia should open door for climate refugees

	Australia should recognise climate change refugees as a
legitimate category of humanitarian refugee, according to Australian
Greens Leader Senator Brown.
	
	"Without changing the number of refugees accepted into
Australia, a simple broadening of the definition of humanitarian
refugee, can hold the door open for refugees from low-lying countries
affected by rising sea-levels."

	"As a leading global climate polluter, Australia should
recognise that the future is uncertain for many millions of people in
the world's coastal areas - and that we are ready to play our part."

	"Only yesterday the President-elect of the Maldives, Mohamed
Nasheed said his country would begin buying land in Australia and other
countries as an insurance policy against global warming."

	"Most of the land mass of the Maldives stand little more than a
metre above sea level - a story repeated in Australia's region in the
form of Kirabati, Tuvalu and the Cartaret Islands off Papua New Guinea."

	Senator Brown said unless all countries participated in cutting
carbon emissions, climate refugees would become an increasing reality.

	"Australia's hand should be out and open to climate refugees as
sea-level rises, deserts spread, and a host of other climate changes
make more parts of the world uninhabitable."


	Further information: Russell Kelly 0438 376 082.