The legacy of Essam El-Hinnawi, who introduced the concept of environmental refugee in the 1980s, gains greater relevance in the context and debate of international policy on climate litigation. His pioneering contribution recognized the need to protect and support individuals displaced due to environmental disasters and climate change. El-Hinnawi defined environmental refugees as those forced to leave their homes due to adverse environmental conditions, such as natural disasters, environmental degradation, and the impacts of climate change. His approach broadened the traditional scope of refuge to include those affected by environmental crises, highlighting the intersection of human rights, the environment, and migration. In the context of climate litigation, El-Hinnawi’s concept of environmental refugee is remembered in light of the need for legal protection and support for individuals displaced due to extreme climatic events and environmental degradation. This article seeks to analyze how increasing awareness of the impacts of climate change has driven debates on shared responsibilities, adaptation, and mitigation, as well as the need for robust legal mechanisms to address emerging challenges. Through the connection between El-Hinnawi’s legacy and climate litigation, the goal is to identify integrated and collaborative approaches to recognize and protect the rights of environmental refugees, as well as the challenges in facing global climate challenges. The inductive method was chosen, starting from El-Hinnawi’s pioneering idea and definition of environmental refuge, to identify the potential of this concept in shaping discourse and policies related to environmental refugees, highlighting the urgency of collective actions and sustainable solutions to protect the most vulnerable in the face of climate change.