‘Humanitarian’ visa must be created for Pacific Islanders displaced by climate crisis, experts say

Excerpt from theguardian.com

‘Humanitarian’ visa must be created for Pacific Islanders displaced by climate crisis, experts say Calls for reform to allow people across the Pacific threatened by climate crisis to more easily migrate, particularly to New Zealand

Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson Thu 9 Oct 2025 02.02 BST Share Climate and migration experts are calling for urgent action to create legal pathways for people displaced by the climate crisis, as a new report highlights the scale of the problem across the Pacific.

Research by Amnesty International released on Thursday found current immigration systems are inadequate for Pacific Islanders seeking safety and stability, as rising seas threaten to make their homelands uninhabitable.

Amnesty has called on New Zealand – home to the world’s largest Pacific diaspora – to urgently reform its policies to provide “rights-based approach to climate-related displacement”.

“This would include offering a dedicated humanitarian visa,” the report said.

It also argued providing safe options for those most severely affected by climate change through humanitarian visas is “part of states’ obligations to ensure protection for people whose human rights are being threatened”.

The report highlights how Tuvalu and Kiribati, where most land lies just 2 to 3 metres above sea level, face existential threats from rising seas, coastal erosion, and extreme weather. These impacts already undermine access to clean water, food, and safe housing.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), at least 50,000 Pacific Islanders each year face the risk of displacement from climate impacts such as sea level rise and extreme weather. More than half of the Pacific Islands’ population live within 500 metres of the coast, the WMO said, where sea levels are rising faster than the global average and driving pressures for climate-induced migration.