When climate change and human rights meet: A brief comment on the UN Human Rights Committee’s Teitiota decision

The article explores a decision adopted by the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC) concerning an individual complaint filed by a citizen of Kiribati - Ioane Teitiota - against New Zealand. The applicant maintained that, due to the devastating effects of climate change on is country of origin, New Zealand should not deport him back to Kiribati, as his right to life would be seriously endangered. While the HRC found in favour of the respondent state, the ruling is considered as a major breakthrough for people displaced by the effects of climate change, as it explicitly acknowledged the possibility that hosting states might have a non-refoulement obligation vis-a-vis individuals fleeing from the consequences of sea-level rise.