An estimated 26 million people a year were internally displaced by disasters and hazards between 2008 and 2015. These numbers will just get worse as climate change exacerbates the effects of natural disasters, increasing both internal and cross-border displacement.

That is why we are releasing a series of episodes this season focusing on climate change. This week we kick off our series with Jane McAdam, Scientia Professor of Law and Director of the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law at the University of New South Wales. McAdam explains why people displaced by climate change don’t have refugee status — and how we can use existing legal frameworks to ensure their protection.

Displaced is a production by the International Rescue Committee and Vox Media. You can read more about this episode in our show notes.

Join our conversation about climate change by tweeting your thoughts to @grantmgordon and @rgurumurthy. Make sure you include the hashtag #DisplacedPodcast!

One last thing: we are conducting an audience survey to better serve you. It takes no more than five minutes, and it really helps out the show. Please take our survey here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices