Climate Change Migration
Climate refugee
In 2011, IDMC reported that disasters such as floods, storms and earthquakes triggered the displacement of over 15 million, more than 90% of which were related to climate or extreme weather events. Displacement related to slow-onset disasters, including drought and long-term processes of environmental degradation and habitat loss displace many more, but is un-quantified.
International Organization for Migration
The links between climate change and migration, however, are complicated and still poorly understood. Such changes are rarely unique drivers of population displacement. They are one significant determinant, in conjunction with economic, social and political factors, and usually linked to existing vulnerabilities.
While the growth of environmental refugees has been the most significant in sub-Saharan
Africa, other areas are also at heavy risk. Areas at risk that have been identified include:
Yemen, China, Louisiana, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Bangladesh. Yemen may run out of water, China is affected by the expansion of Gobi desert, Louisiana and Alaska are losing land to the sea at about 3 metres per year, Tuvalu or Kiribati are among the most threatened, as they are situated only centimetres above water and Bangladesh may lose one-fifth of its surface area due to rising sea levels. Terrible predictions on environmental forced migration have been suggested also for other areas of the world, including Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Turkey, Vietnam, Niger, Ghana, Ecuador, Mexico, Argentina etc
Regional Academy on the United Nations: Climate refugees in the 21st century: December 2012 report
Case Study 1:
Somalia;
While the crisis that hit Somalia in 2011 was generally attributed to drought, other contributing factors included ongoing conflict, violence and restrictions on aid organizations to operate in militia-controlled areas. More than 300,000 Somalis fled during the year, mostly to Ethiopia and Kenya, bringing the total of Somali
In 2011, IDMC reported that disasters such as floods, storms and earthquakes triggered the displacement of over 15 million, more than 90% of which were related to climate or extreme weather events. Displacement related to slow-onset disasters, including drought and long-term processes of environmental degradation and habitat loss displace many more, but is un-quantified.
International Organization for Migration
The links between climate change and migration, however, are complicated and still poorly understood. Such changes are rarely unique drivers of population displacement. They are one significant determinant, in conjunction with economic, social and political factors, and usually linked to existing vulnerabilities.
While the growth of environmental refugees has been the most significant in sub-Saharan
Africa, other areas are also at heavy risk. Areas at risk that have been identified include:
Yemen, China, Louisiana, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Bangladesh. Yemen may run out of water, China is affected by the expansion of Gobi desert, Louisiana and Alaska are losing land to the sea at about 3 metres per year, Tuvalu or Kiribati are among the most threatened, as they are situated only centimetres above water and Bangladesh may lose one-fifth of its surface area due to rising sea levels. Terrible predictions on environmental forced migration have been suggested also for other areas of the world, including Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Turkey, Vietnam, Niger, Ghana, Ecuador, Mexico, Argentina etc
Regional Academy on the United Nations: Climate refugees in the 21st century: December 2012 report
Case Study 1:
Somalia;
While the crisis that hit Somalia in 2011 was generally attributed to drought, other contributing factors included ongoing conflict, violence and restrictions on aid organizations to operate in militia-controlled areas. More than 300,000 Somalis fled during the year, mostly to Ethiopia and Kenya, bringing the total of Somali