Islander’s bid to be climate change refugee fails

A Pacific islander whose homeland is threatened by rising seas failed in an attempt to become the world’s first climate change refugee, with a New Zealand judge dismissing his case as “novel” but “unconvincing”.

Lawyers for Ioane Teitiota, 37, argued New Zealand should not deport him even though his visa had expired, because climate change was gradually destroying his low-lying home in Kiribati.

The difficulties Teitiota and his family would face in the tiny nation — which consists of about 30 atolls, most only a few metres above sea level — meant they should be recognised as refugees, the lawyers said.