In the near future, climate change will challenge the tackling mechanism of many countries and overwhelm some by aggravating current difficulties such as extreme weather events, food safety, shortage of water, etc., while putting fundamental human rights in a jeopardy. There is growing evidence that climate change-related occurrences are specifically affecting the underdeveloped countries and the EU Member States will be the lowest affected. Even though taking refuge in another country is a last resort solution to dealing with the effects of climate change, human flows to the EU are going to be inevitable if no measures will be taken. In accordance with its underlying values, the EU has a crucial role in reaching a consensus on finding a solution not only to this problem, but also to recognition and legal protection of climate refugees. The article addresses the need to recognition and protection of climate refugees and actions to be taken by the EU to reduce negative consequences of climate change.

In the near future, climate change will challenge the tackling mechanism of many countries and overwhelm some by aggravating current difficulties such as extreme weather events, food safety, shortage of water, etc., while putting fundamental human rights in a jeopardy. There is growing evidence that climate change-related occurrences are specifically affecting the underdeveloped countries and the EU Member States will be the lowest affected. Even though taking refuge in another country is a last resort solution to dealing with the effects of climate change, human flows to the EU are going to be inevitable if no measures will be taken. In accordance with its underlying values, the EU has a crucial role in reaching a consensus on finding a solution not only to this problem, but also to recognition and legal protection of climate refugees. The article addresses the need to recognition and protection of climate refugees and actions to be taken by the EU to reduce negative consequences of climate change.