Climate Migration

New Proposal to Address Climate Migration Protection Gap as India Hit Hard

New Proposal to Address Climate Migration Protection Gap as India Hit Hard

Reflecting the need for fairness and solidarity in any framework meant to tackle the complex issues around climate migration, the researchers argue that those seeking asylum should be absorbed in host countries according to cumulative greenhouse gas emissions. This principle of proportionality is central to ongoing discussions about climate change, particularly loss and damage. Indeed, while it continues to ruffle feathers in wealthy countries, it is undeniable that the people and countries least responsible for climate change are bearing the brunt of its negative effects.

Extreme Climate Events Driving Migration and Trafficking in Odisha, India

Extreme Climate Events Driving Migration and Trafficking in Odisha, India

A new UK foreign office-funded study has found extreme climate events like cyclones, storms, floods and drought are driving residents in Odisha’s coastal Kendrapara district and Jharkhand’s Palamu districts to migrate. Alarmingly, the social protections available are increasingly stretched beyond capacity to accommodate the increasing climate events, driving residents to migrate and in turn, increasing their vulnerabilities to trafficking.

At the same time, an extreme heat wave has been impacting thousands across India and Pakistan, which the World Weather Attribution says is 30 times more likely because of the effects of climate change, and in fact, “would have been extraordinarily rare without human-induced climate change.”

Advocates Push for Canada to Protect Climate Migrants

Advocates Push for Canada to Protect Climate Migrants

A group of Canadian lawyers have been advocating for small advances in Canadian immigration policy to accommodate the realities of climate impacts on human mobility. Like most countries, Canada does not recognize climate migrants under its current immigration law, but the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers points to past disasters – like the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and 2004 South East Asian tsunami - as example of times the government offered special directives to persons seeking refuge.

IPCC Warns of Climate Traps Among Refugees and Displaced Peoples

IPCC Warns of Climate Traps Among Refugees and Displaced Peoples

In Chapter 8: Poverty, Livelihoods, and Sustainable Development, the IPCC has a sub-section titled “Box 8.1: Climate Traps: A Focus on Refugees and Internally Displaced Peoples” where the authors highlight the extreme vulnerability refugees and internally displaced peoples have to climate change and how this cycle of multidimensional poverty perpetuates itself - what we might term ‘climate trap.’

The term ‘climate trap’ or ‘poverty trap’ as it is more commonly known, is a concept that is widely used by development practitioners or academics within the scope of development. ‘Poverty trap’ is the notion that poverty begets poverty. Take for example a family in a poor rural community in a developing country who grows crops for sustenance and possibly, livelihood. It is not uncommon for such families to be in dire situations economically that children aren’t able to attend school because even they must work in the fields for their families to survive. During my time in Mongolia, and now in Kyrgyzstan, I’ve seen many families forced into situations like this.

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Intersection of Crises Exacerbates Climate Migration in Mozambique

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Intersection of Crises Exacerbates Climate Migration in Mozambique

Mozambique is dealing with climate-induced migration in the south and conflict-induced migration in the north. Tropical Storm Ana made landfall in the southeast African nation last month, destroying hundreds of homes and killing at least twelve people. This is not the first deadly storm to hit Mozambique and unfortunately, they are becoming increasingly prevalent for Mozambique and other countries in the region due to climate change.

To Mitigate Climate Change, Combat Slavery and Protect Climate Migrants & Refugees

To Mitigate Climate Change, Combat Slavery and Protect Climate Migrants & Refugees

Addressing the needs and protection of climate migrants is a matter of human rights, but according to a new study linking modern slavery and climate change, it might also hold massive potential in mitigating climate change. Astonishingly, modern slavery emits 2.54 billion tons of CO2 a year and over the past few years, increasing correlations have been made recognizing the nexus between climate change, migration and modern slavery. According to Anti-Slavery International, modern slavery can come in the form of human trafficking, forced labor, debt bondage, forced prostitution and child labor among others, and now climate-induced migration is increasing migrants’ vulnerability to modern slavery.