World Refugee Day 2026: The Climate-Conflict Nexus and the Case for a New Global Refugee Framework

India has taken a proactive stance on this issue, calling for a comprehensive global framework to protect those displaced by climate change. Although India is not a signatory to the 1951 Convention, it manages one of the world's largest refugee populations and views climate-induced migration as a critical non-traditional security threat. New Delhi’s advocacy emphasizes that the international community must move beyond the narrow definitions of the 20th century. For India, the stability of the South Asian region is inextricably linked to how the world manages the displacement of millions from low-lying coastal areas and disaster-prone zones. Addressing this crisis requires integrating climate adaptation into peacebuilding, operationalizing "Loss and Damage" funds, and evolving international law to ensure that the most vulnerable are not left behind in a warming world. UPSC Relevance: This topic is highly relevant for GS Paper I (Population and Associated Issues) and GS Paper II (International Relations). It provides critical arguments for questions regarding the limitations of existing international legal frameworks (1951 Convention) and India’s leadership in advocating for the Global South on issues of climate justice and migration governance.