Climate Migration and Political Crisis: A Theological Analysis of Displacement and Human Dignity

Abstract

Human displacement is getting more and more motivated by climate change and political crises that pose urgent questions of human dignity, ethical responsibility and policy responses. The paper will focus on climate-induced migration in the context of the theological approach and look at how the religious and ethical frameworks can justify humanitarian and political response in the context of displaced population. Relying on the cross-disciplinary literature, the paper examines how all environmental stressors, governance failures, and socio-political instability interact and find a way to the disadvantaged communities (de Sherbinin, Grace, McDermid, van der Geest, Puma, and Bell, 2022; Black et al., 2011; Bettini, 2013). It also assesses current legal and policy frameworks of climate migration, outlining space in protection and accountability (Docherty and Giannini, 2009; Okedele, Aziza, Oduro and Ishola, 2024). The theological view focuses on stewardship, human dignity, and moral responsibility toward displaced individuals, which offers a normative basis of responses to displacement caused by climate (Igwe, 2025; Johnson, 2012). Offering an insight into the environmental, political, and ethical aspects, this research will contribute to the overall concept of climate migration as a multidimensional process, promoting policies and interventions that will not harm human dignity and are attentive to the socio-political reality of displacement. The results highlight the need to integrate practical, legal, and moral initiatives to reduce the effects of climate crises on the vulnerable groups.