New Zealand court denies Pacific man’s bid to be climate change refugee

A Pacific Island man’s bid to become a climate change refugee suffered a blow on Tuesday after a New Zealand court refused to let him challenge a decision denying him asylum.

Ioane Teitiota, 37, had said he was trying to escape rising seas and environmental risks caused by global warming in his home country of Kiribati.

But New Zealand’s High Court in Auckland ruled that his claim fell short of the legal criteria, such as fear of persecution or threats to his life.

Justice John Priestly called the bid novel but misguided, and upheld the original decision by an immigration tribunal.

“By returning to Kiribati, he would not suffer a sustained and systemic violation of his basic human rights such as the right to life ... or the right to adequate food, clothing and housing,” Priestley wrote in his judgment.

An immigrant who overstayed his permit, Teitiota, who arrived in New Zealand in 2007 and has three children born there, now faces deportation unless he appeals to a higher court.