Climate-Induced Displacement in the Global North: The Case of Australia

By Olivia Karp

Introduction 

Discussions around internal displacement focus more on the Global South than the Global North because of conflict and fragile humanitarian impacts. Disasters worldwide are increasing due to climate change, affecting migration patterns. Wildfires, floods, and other climate-related disasters have significant but overlooked impacts on people who become internally displaced in wealthier countries. Regions such as Australia face significant climate impacts, including rising extreme heat and increasing bushfire risk. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, 240,828 displacements occurred across the country between 2008 and 2023 (O'Rourke, 2024). Many of these displacements have been internal and driven by climate change. Climate change disasters cause prolonged homelessness, financial difficulties, and increased vulnerability (O'Rourke, 2024). Although internal displacement is commonly associated with the Global South, it is happening in places like Australia. This paper argues that Australia’s climate impacts show how internal displacement in the Global North can be widespread, prolonged, and shaped by social and economic inequalities.

Background 

Australia is affected by climate change, with droughts, rising temperatures, and declining rainfall (Hughes, 2003). Studies by Lesley Hughes (2003) and Neville Nicholls (2006) examine how climate change has impacted Australia. Since the 1950s, temperatures have increased by 0.1-0.2 °C per decade. This rise has affected inland parts, particularly Queensland and New South Wales, during winter and spring (Hughes, 2003). Since the early 1940s, droughts have increased due to rising temperatures (Hughes, 2003). Warmer temperatures will continue into the 21st century, leading to less rainfall (Hughes, 2003). These changes have caused bushfires and other climate disasters across the country. Since the late 1970s, bushfires have injured 4,000 people, destroyed 3,000 homes, and forced thousands to evacuate (Climate Council, 2019). Bushfires are measured by fatalities, homes destroyed, and land burnt (Chester, 2020). 2019 was Australia’s warmest year, with the average temperature 1.52 °C above the 2013 average of 1.33 °C (Chester, 2020).

Those living in remote areas of Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales were most affected by the 2019 temperature increase (UNDRR, 2025). The 2009 Victoria event called “Black Saturday” caused 173 fatalities and damaged or destroyed 3,500 buildings (Bryant et al., 2014). Since 2009, wildfires have increased, leading to the 2019 and 2020 fires. During the 2019-2020 bushfire season, 64,579 people were newly displaced (du Parc & Yasukawa, 2020). Low-income and Indigenous Australians were 18% more likely to live in remote areas than 1.4% of non-Indigenous Australians (du Parc & Yasukawa, 2020). People in remote areas had more difficulty evacuating and receiving aid than those in non-remote areas during these wildfire seasons. These wildfires caused significant health, social, and economic impacts.

These wildfires have caused health, social, and economic impacts in Australia. Health effects from the 2009, 2019, and 2020 fires included poor air quality at higher altitudes, leading to shortness of breath and inflammation (Xu et al., 2023). Psychological impacts included feelings of powerlessness and loss of loved ones (Xu et al., 2023). Social impacts mainly affected Indigenous populations and low-income people living in remote areas. Those displaced were at risk of repeated displacement due to rural living (du Parc & Yasukawa, 2020). Economically, many could not return to work because they lost homes and had to use funds to rebuild (du Parc & Yasukawa, 2020). Other effects included school interruptions and some families unable to afford rebuilding, forcing relocation (du Parc & Yasukawa, 2020). This is due to Australia’s policy framework, which responds to disasters in phases rather than addressing social and economic effects on individuals (Mortimer et al., 2022). These policies do not consider the needs of those displaced internally or for long periods (Mortimer et al., 2022). The Australian government must do more to address the effects of climate change on internal displacement among the most affected.

As shown above, Australian wildfires have affected people in various ways and demonstrate how climate change is driving displacement in the country. This background provides an overview of how climate change is increasingly affecting Australians. This article argues that Australian wildfires prove internal displacement occurs more often in wealthier countries than in the Global South. The next section will discuss how Australia’s situation is often overlooked in studies on internal displacement in the Global North.

Why are studies on Internal Displacement Overlooked in the Global North countries, and how can the Australian Bushfire example work on addressing it

Australia is not seen as at risk of mass internal displacement, but the examples above show it is affected by disasters. The country faces risks from disasters, which can cause displacement during severe climate events. Much focus on internal displacement has been on the Global South rather than the North. This is because studies by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Norwegian Refugee Council, and others focus on conflict and violence in vulnerable countries rather than richer nations (Cantor & Woolley, 2020). Data on internal displacement mainly examines persecution, conflict, violence, and human rights violations (Dirikgil, 2022). Little work has been done on the effects of disasters in areas affected by displacement, especially in comparisons between lower-income and higher-income countries. This relates to vulnerability and the resources countries have to address the impacts of disasters on displacement (Pinto et al., 2014). In the Global North, assessing vulnerability and environmental impacts on displacement can be difficult.

This is because countries like Australia are not seen as vulnerable enough, as not enough people are recognized as vulnerable or living in conflict and economic hardship (Mooney, 2005). Ignoring the Global North reinforces the idea that displacement after disasters occurs only in lower-income countries, not in richer ones. It is believed that richer nations can respond and deploy resources properly. However, after the 2009, 2019, and 2020 Australian bushfires, vulnerable populations—Indigenous people and those in remote areas—were more affected than those in higher-income areas (Mortimer et al., 2023). Additionally, Australian government policies failed to address the long-term effects of internal displacement and responded in phases rather than immediately meeting the needs of affected people during the bushfires (Mortimer et al., 2023).

The literature on disaster impacts and internal displacement should use Australia as a case study to show how environmental factors affect vulnerable populations. Viewing internal displacement as only occurring in vulnerable places reinforces the false idea that richer nations are less vulnerable to disasters than poorer ones (Cohen and Bradley, 2010). This view is dangerous because ignoring short- and long-term displacement impacts in richer nations leaves out important policies and research needed to mitigate displacement and disaster impacts in the Global North (Scott and Salamanca, 2020). The effects of climate change will increase each year, and addressing them now shows that it can affect everyone.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, internal displacement is often framed as a challenge that occurs in countries in the Global South rather than in wealthier nations. As climate change continues to intensify, more research and literature are needed to address the environmental impacts in richer nations, such as Australia. Australia’s experience demonstrates that internal displacement in the Global North is happening. Rather, it is an expanding issue shaped by existing social and economic inequalities. Recognizing this shift is essential for developing more inclusive and effective responses to displacement in a changing climate.

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