People who have to flee because of climate change do not fit in the definition of refugee of the Geneva Convention on Refugees. These people do not flee because of a well-founded fear of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality or political opinion or membership of a particular social group. Climate Refugees are not legal. Will Europe urge to legally protect and provide shelter to these people? Europe is partly responsible for the suffering that many of these people must undergo. In September 2009, Andy Vermaut from Belgium was the first one to address a petition to the European Parliament on this issue. Meanwhile, he received a letter from the mayor of Ghent (Belgium) who said that he would do an effort so that already European socialists would support this initiative. Andy hopes that other European parties will also support the recognition of an international status for climate refugees.
He also wishes to introduce the term of climate change migrants instead of climate refugees. This definition would be more respectful for the victims affected by the impacts of climate change. In this proposal, he highly stressed the situation of Tuvalu.