
Whose move? Addressing migration and displacement in the face of climate change
19-21 October 2021
World leaders might – or might not – reach a bold agreement to slow global warming at the Glasgow talks in November. Either way, people will continue to move away from the impacts of climate change and disasters – often because they have no choice.
Already, intensifying wildfires, cyclones, droughts, floods and rising seas are making lives and livelihoods increasingly precarious for millions of people around the world. As climate change exacerbates these pressures, more people will need to move. Some will relocate within their own countries, others may be displaced further afield. Where will they go and how? Will the law be a help or a hindrance?
At this crucial time in global policymaking, the Kaldor Centre Conference 2021 brings together world experts to share evidence, experience and solutions for people at risk of displacement in the context of climate change and disasters.
Audio and video recordings from this event are now available.

Setting the agenda
Over several days our ambitious, agenda-setting program will unpack where we stand in the context of climate change and disasters, where we are going, and what can be done to promote protection in the face of emerging challenges.
Global reach,
diverse voices
Harnessing the opportunities of going online, we will welcome speakers and delegates from across the globe with live and on-demand sessions designed to be accessible around the world.
Not just talk
This will be more than just a series of talks. Breakout sessions and Q&A during live sessions will promote engagement and exchange amongst delegates across the world with two key panel sessions scheduled each day at 9:30am and 5:30pm AEDT.
Learn. Share. Connect.
@KaldorCentre #Kaldor21
Image credit: Roger Arnold/UNHCR
Explore the program

Today’s truths: What decision-makers need to know about human mobility and climate change
19 October 2021, 9:30-10:30am AEDT
Experts set out the key questions and principles that should guide responses to mobility in the face of climate change.
Rabab Fatima
Ambassador of Bangladesh to the United Nations
Andrew Harper
Special Advisor on Climate Action to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Frances Namoumou
Pacific Conference of Churches
Nicole Shepardson
US Department of State
Chair: Jane McAdam
Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law

Litigating climate change displacement: Cutting-edge cases and decisions
20 October 2021, 9.30-10.30am AEDT
From Alaska to the Torres Strait, litigation is raising creative arguments about climate change displacement.
Robin Bronen
Alaska Institute for Justice
Ama Francis
International Refugee Assistance Project
Adam McBeth
Victorian Bar
Solomon Yeo
Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change
Chair: llona Millar
Baker McKenzie

Should I stay or should I go? Planned relocations
21 October 2021, 9.30-10.30am AEDT
When whole communities need to relocate, who decides – to move at all, and if so, where?
Erica Bower
Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law
Daniel Fitzpatrick
Faculty of Law, Monash University
Salote Soqo
Climate Justice & Crisis Response, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Merewalesi Yee
University of Queensland
Chair: Elizabeth Ferris
Institute for the Study of International Migration, Georgetown University

Moving beyond ‘climate refugees’: Readying law, policy and practice for displacement in a warming world
19 October 2021, 5.30-6.30pm AEDT
How does law help or hinder people on the move from the impacts of disasters or climate change?
Bruce Burson
New Zealand Immigration and Protection Tribunal
Lucy Daxbacher
Head of Mission to Uganda, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
Walter Kälin
Envoy of the Chair, Platform on Disaster Displacement
Caroline Zickgraf
Deputy Director, The Hugo Observatory
Chair: Tamara Wood
Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law

Does the data on climate and disaster displacement add up?
20 October 2021, 5.30-6.30pm AEDT
What do we know, how do we know it, and what more do we need to know to inform policies on climate change and mobility?
Vicente Anzellini
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre
Tautala Mauala
Samoan Red Cross
Andrea Milan
International Organization for Migration
Kira Vinke
Center for Climate and Foreign Policy
Chair: Sanjula Weerasinghe
Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law

To Glasgow and beyond: Building support for people moving away from climate change
21 October 2021, 5.30-6.30pm AEDT
How can we build support for people at risk of climate and disaster displacement, at COP26 and beyond?
Nisreen Elsaim
UN Secretary General's Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change
Alex Randall
Climate and Migration Coalition
Koko Warner
UN Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Martijn Wilder
Pollination Group
Chair: Linh Do
Head of Campaign Networks, Climate Catalyst
Get tickets
Register for tickets below or go to booking site.
The Andrew & Renata Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law at UNSW Sydney is the world's first research centre dedicated to the study of international refugee law. The Centre was founded in 2013 to undertake rigorous research on the most pressing issues in Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and the world, and to contribute to public policy promoting legal, sustainable and humane solutions to forced migration.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we live and work,
and pay our respects to their elders – past, present and emerging.
Premier Sponsor
The Kaldor Centre would like to thank our premier conference sponsor
![UNHCR Vertical_blue[1] cut white border.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3fe448_75c3bd52834c4b139c07f0b7a27637a4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_239,h_246,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/UNHCR%20Vertical_blue%5B1%5D%20cut%20white%20border.jpg)
The Kaldor Centre would like to thank the following conference sponsors for their generous support



To discuss sponsorship opportunities, please contact us at kaldorcentre@unsw.edu.au.
Sponsors


Andrew & Renata Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law
Faculty of Law, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
CRICOS Provider Code 00098G