"The divisions the effort has exposed and the logistical and moral dilemmas it has presented point up in microcosm the massive problems the world could face in the coming decades as it confronts a new category of displaced people who have become known as climate refugees."

Precisely determining who qualifies as a "climate refugee" is a notoriously difficult challenge. While the UN Refugee Agency estimates 22 million people were displaced by "disasters brought on by natural hazard events," evidence linking, for example, the civil war raging in Syria and Iraq with a prolonged drought would up that number.

In short, it's difficult to clearly isolate environmental factors, which tend to happen on large temporal and geographic scales, from sociopolitical causes of mass displacement, which are often more visible.

In any case, while a sizable chunk of the American government still doesn't believe in anthropogenic climate change, its citizens are already being displaced because of its effects.

For more on the growing population of a climate refugees worldwide, take a look at some past coverage:

• Architectures of the Disaster
• Our cities must adapt to climate change and growing populations within a single generation, according to the head of Arup
• Relocation or Adaptation: Kiribati buys land in Fiji
• Relocation or Adaptation: Preparing for Global Warming
• The Alaskan village set to disappear under water in a decade

Feeling concerned about the state of the world? Want to find out what architects can do about rising sea levels, ever-increasing global temperatures, and widening social inequity? Check back here throughout the month for more on the profession's engagement with social and humanitarian issues, as part of May's themed coverage, Help.

Have projects of your own that are oriented towards creating a more equitable and livable society? Submit to our open call before Sunday, May 22.