Teitiota v. New Zealand - A Groundbreaking Case, or the First of Many?

Abstract

In 2015, Ioane Teitiota applied for asylum in New Zealand under the term "climate refugee". Soon after he brought the case to the High Court of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , however the claim was denied by both courts. Although very little was done for Mr. Teitiota, this case opened the door for a conversation about climate refugees on an international scale. This research will examine what impacts, if any, did the case of Teitiota v. New Zealand have on international law. Through the application of Normative and Constructivist theory, a legal analysis as well as three interviews were performed in order to gain a better understanding of possible avenues for expansion in international law to protect climate refugees. This thesis also examined how norms are adopted by the international community, and if the norm of "climate refugees" has potential of following this route.