SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL EDUCATION
Assignment Cover Sheet
Programme:
Term: 2nd Semester, 2014-2015
Course Code: GEN2002
Course: Global Politics
Class: L02
Instructor: Yeh Kuo Hao, Jackson
Student Names and SID No.: Au-Yeung Shun Tak, Debbie (s136008)
Submission Date: March 30, 2015
Individual Essay:
Role: Australia
In 18th century, there was an emergence of “Industrial Revolution’. At that
time, there were rapid development of economic and industrial activities which
has led to excessive use of energy and resources. Since then, climate changed
abnormally, global temperature raised and numerous bad effects came one after
the other. On the other hand, climate change has close relationship with climate
refugee. Climate refugees are people who must leave their homes and
communities because of the effects of climate change and global warming. The
International Federation of Red Cross estimates that there are 25 to 50 million
people are climate refugees today, however, they are not legally standing under
existing international law. By referring to the definition in the key legal document
– The Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, it defines a refugee is a
person who has a well-founded fear of persecution in their homeland because of
their race, religion, nationality of membership of a particular group. In other
words, it does not offer protection to climate refugees. As a result, taking care of
climate refugees is always a controversial issue in global politics. When people
talk about climate refugee problem, Australia is always one of the parties being
discussed. It is a close neighbor of small, low-lying South Pacific states at the
frontline of climate change. Therefore, it is viewed as being responsible for the
influx of people displaced by climate change.
Problems arise from climate change is always the cause of climate refugee.
In the age of industrialization, large amount of greenhouse gases were
uncontrollably emitted out from the factories. According to the statistics done by
environmental groups, the content of carbon dioxide has increased more than 30%
since the 18th century, most of them came from the burning of fossil fuel in
operation. Besides, natural events such as volcanic eruptions may also contributed
to the climate change. Greenhouse gases trapped heat under the atmosphere and
caused an increase in temperature, and finally led to a macro phenomenon named
global climate change.
Global climate change refers to a general increase in global temperature, it
brings serious bad effects such as increase in sea level, drought problem,
desertification, etc. Global climate change isn’t just about the environment,
though, its effects touch every part of human lives. People especially in
developing countries and low-lying areas suffer the most. It is because an increase
in sea level can put their homeland completely underwater, and what’s more, they
lack capital and knowledge to cope with the impacts. As a result, people are in
