As part of a programme of events to mark World Refugee Day 2011, Friends of the Earth Malta organised a tree planting event in conjunction with UNHCR Malta at the GAIA Foundation in Ghajn Tuffieha.

Refugees currently residing in Malta, joined volunteers and staff from FoE Malta and UNHCR on a visit to GAIA’s “Elysium” visitor Centre at Ghajn Tuffieha. They were given a tour of the Centre, the Nursery for indigenous plants, the organic Olive groves and the Special Area of Conservation at Ghajn Tuffieha.

The number of environmental refugees around the world today is as high as 25 million, and is increasing exponentially. Environmental refugees are forced from their homes by phenomena including large dams, desertification, forest destruction, and most recently, climate change. To date there exist few mechanisms to accommodate these people, who lose their livelihoods, their cultures and their dignity when forced from their homelands. Friends of the Earth believes that the concept of human rights must be broadened in order for new and evolving issues to be recognized and protected, including the phenomenon of climate refugees.

Throughout its member groups in 77 different countries, Friends of the Earth have been at the forefront of the ongoing struggles of communities and indigenous peoples around the world. Other ‘new’ rights, including rights for climate refugees, have arisen over recent years due to the acceleration of economic globalization and the accompanying environmental destruction and social disruption.

Environmental rights are human rights, as people’s livelihoods, their health, and sometimes their very existence depend upon the quality of and their access to the surrounding environment as well as the recognition of their rights to information, participation, security and redress.