Human rights, vulnerability, and climate migration in the anthropocene: Reconceptualizing responsibility

Abstract Climate-induced migration challenges existing legal and moral frameworks by exposing the limitations of state-centered responsibility in addressing global human rights harms. This article examines the concept of responsibility through the integration of Shue’s triple-pronged theory and Fineman’s vulnerability theory, to propose a conceptual framework for shared responsibility between states, multinational corporations, and global institutions. By analyzing the shifting role of states in a globalized context and the growing influence of multinationals, the article critiques the legal vacuum surrounding climate displacement and calls for a structural transformation of international human rights obligations. It argues for a holistic ecosystem that reflects the interdependence of global actors, in which both state and nonstate entities are accountable for preventing harm, protecting vulnerable populations, and ensuring access to remedy. The article concludes that this reconceptualization advances the discourse on climate justice and offers a rights-based foundation for addressing climate-induced migration in the Anthropocene.