Environmental refugees concept – UGC NET Question

Environmental refugees are people who have to leave their homes because environmental conditions make living there unsafe or unsustainable. These conditions can be sudden disasters like floods or gradual changes like desertification and sea-level rise. Their movement is driven by survival rather than choice or lifestyle. Therefore, migration due to environmental changes is the correct reason.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because educational opportunities are socio-economic pull factors, not environmental pressures. Students moving for education are migrants but not environmental refugees.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it directly links displacement to environmental degradation and hazards. It reflects discussions on climate-induced migration and vulnerability.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect since lifestyle choices are voluntary and not forced by environmental stress. Such moves are better described as optional migration.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because government tourism incentives attract visitors, not refugees. Tourists are temporary and not displaced by environmental harm.