While natural disasters affect all Australians, regardless of background or status, they do not affect us all equally. People facing disadvantage, such as those in poverty, migrants, refugees, children, older people, people with disabilities, people who are homeless or transient, and people living in poor quality housing, are more vulnerable at all stages of a disaster—before, during, and after it strikes.

Climate change does not stop at country borders. The effects of climate change are being felt in Asia and the Pacific, with implications for Australia’s trade, migration, development and national security.

Recognising the potential for climate change to worsen the impacts of disaster-induced population displacement, Australia supports the Nansen Initiative—an international, state-led consultative process that aims to build consensus among states on key principles and elements of a protection agenda, and encourage better management of this issue at a domestic, regional and global level.