Ioane Teitiota v. The Chief Executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

A resident of Kiribati appealed the denial of refugee status in New Zealand arguing the impacts climate change and rising seas would have on Kiribati. The courts rejected the claims and denied refugee status. Lastly, UN Human Rights Committee rejected the claims by reasoning it is not an immediate danger, given the ten to fifteen-year timeframe, so there has an adequate period for intervening to protecting citizens from a country becoming submerged. However, the Committee highlighted that the countries should not deport individuals who suffer from a violation of their right to life as a result of climate change-induced circumstances irrespective of whether it is caused either through sudden-onset climate events or slow-onset climate events.

http://climatecasechart.com/non-us-case/ioane-teitiota-v-the-chief-executive-of-the-ministry-of-business-innovation-and-employment/

https://climate-laws.org/geographies/new-zealand/litigation_cases/ioane-teitiota-v-the-chief-executive-of-the-ministry-of-business-innovation-and-employment-new-zealand-supreme-court-2015

https://www.refworld.org/cases,HRC,5e26f7134.html