In November 2025, one of the first climate-related asylum appeals was reviewed in the UK, by the UK's First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) and approved on human rights grounds. In FA v Secretary of State for the Home Department (SSHD), the appellant (FA) argued that climate-related hardship, poor mental health relating to the loss of his house to a typhoon, and family (partner) separation would constitute a violation of his human rights if he were returned to the Philippines, particularly the right to private and family life (Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)). The Tribunal Judge determined that the individual would be allowed to remain in the UK, preventing his removal back to his home country, the Philippines. This blog post discusses how this case fits in with the UK legal system, other European climate migration cases, and broader legal approaches to climate-related migration to receiving countries. It proceeds by providing a background on the UK asylum system and the FA case, how the case tackled the question of 'climate refugees', how the case relates to decisions by other domestic courts, and pathways forward for potential climate-related protections for those seeking asylum in the UK. With the latter, it considers the impact of a potential case at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
READ MORE