ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to devise pragmatic – proactive and reactive – protection strategies for Environmentally Displaced Persons (EDPs) by looking at the European Union's regionally orientated complementary protection regime. It shows that circular labour migration through the Seasonal Workers Directive and/or Mobility Partnerships could help states to deal with the predicted effects of environmental change. The chapter reflects the much-needed development of a holistic protection framework for EDPs. It also shows states and policymakers the fulcrum upon which existing human rights standards can remedy the current protection gap within the international legal system. A number of regional efforts have attempted to examine the impact of environmental change and human displacement. At a normative level, regional protection solutions have converged to protect people consistent with international human rights obligations to both prevent and address displacement. The EU is known to have "global clout" as the world's largest trading stage, biggest donor of humanitarian aid, and protector of the environment.
