Denmark the only EU country housing climate refugees
When world leaders met Monday at the Bella center for the UN Climate Summit, Denmark stood out as the only EU country that currently offers accommodation for climate refugees.
According to the Danish Ministry of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs, more refugees from for example Afghanistan and East Africa have received residence permits on the basis of extreme environmental conditions in their home countries. Minister of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs Birthe Rønn Hornbech has indicated that Denmark will continue its practice in the area.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has for years been talking about the climate refugees as one of the most severe challenges that a changing climate will cause. It is estimated that currently there are some 25 million climate refugees in the world.
Berlingske.dk 5 December 2009 (in Danish)
YLE 6 December 2009 (in Finnish)
DN.se 6 December 2009 (in Swedish)
Swedish EU-Presidency 2009
This website is no longer updated. It was a UNHCR Stockholm initiative meant to facilitate the monitoring of refugee and asylum issues during Sweden's European Union Presidency 1 July – 31 December 2009.
