UNFCCC's posture on displacement riskification: Conceptual suggestions

Abstract

This paper poses the question of whether the discussions within Task Force on Displacement (Task Force) meetings contribute to conceptualisation and riskification of climate-related displacement and slow-onset events. Arguing that the Task Force undertakes displacement riskification, the paper ascertains whether the discussions might be a cue for pinpointing the Task Force's posture on riskification of climate-related displacement. Centring on the Task Force's main mandate, the paper explains displacement riskification through discourse analysis of Task Force's discussions. Discourse analysis of policy statements showed that climate-related displacement and slow-onset events appear to be gaining purchase as part of the FCCC's climate diplomacy strategy because they are explicitly debated at Task Force meetings. The paper finds that the discussions made contributions, but are currently not being incorporated through statements that are reported to the Conference of Parties (COP) – the manager of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC). And finds that statements on and framings of displacement riskification may be considered definitive upon approval by the COP. The catch is that most security framings that can be found in the discussions within Task Force meetings has been poorly addressed at the COP mainly because the framings are largely absent in the Task Force reporting to the COP. These contributions/findings underpin the type of political knowledge mostly advanced and thus the likelihood of future directions of riskification politics by the Task Force.