Topic Summary

Confronting the Climate Refugee Crisis in the South Pacific

For low-lying Pacific island nations like Tuvalu and Kiribati, many sitting just two meters above sea level, climate change is not a distant threat but an existential one unfolding right now. Global sea levels have already risen 20 centimeters since 1900 and could rise by up to a meter more by 2100, threatening to permanently submerge entire nations and displace hundreds of thousands of people. Yet climate refugees remain unrecognized under international law, leaving affected populations without legal protections or guaranteed pathways to resettlement. This committee will tackle one of the most complex humanitarian crises of our time: determining who bears responsibility for climate refugees, how displaced communities can be resettled with their rights and identities intact, and what economic and humanitarian frameworks can support a region that has contributed least to climate change but stands to lose the most.

Background Guide Coming Soon!

Meet your Director!

Dear Delegates,

I am so excited to welcome you to the Pacific Islands Forum committee! My name is Fayyaz Razi, and I will be serving as your Director at HMUN Australia 2026. As your Director, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with you and look forward to our time together.

I’m a current Junior at Harvard, studying Government. I am currently a member of the Harvard Intercollegiate Model UN Team and had the opportunity to direct the Legal Committee at HMUN Australia last year. Additionally, I served as the Under-Secretary-General of Crisis Committees for HNMUN 2026 (our college conference). Aside from Model UN, I enjoy travelling (shoutout Google Flights), playing pickleball, and watching investigative documentaries on YouTube.

During committee, I look forward to seeing your creative and collaborative solutions to the issues of climate refugees and sea level rise in the South Pacific—whether it be through detailed resolutions or fun and creative speeches. As your committee chair, I aim to create a fun and collaborative atmosphere that I hope you will enjoy. I look forward to all of your creative ideas and thoughtful debate in committee. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to send me an email, whether it be questions about the background guide, inquiries about how the committee will be run, or simply saying hello!

Sincerely,

Fayyaz Razi