Understanding climate-related migration

Migration trends are related to broader global economic, social, political and technological transformations. Most of the attention goes to the displacements of millions of people by conflict and violence, including in Syria, Yemen, Congo, Sudan, Myanmar. However, there has also been growing recognition of the impacts of environmental and climate change on migration. Climate and weather-related hazards caused displacement and migration in many parts of the world, including in Mozambique, the Philippines, China, India and the USA.

Migration is a vital concern for young people. One out of every eight migrants and every second refugee in the world are under the age of 18. Young people are the least responsible for climate change, and yet are among the most vulnerable to its effects. A significant number of youth live in areas vulnerable to climate impacts, with for instance half a billion children living in extremely high flood occurrence zones and nearly 160 million children living in areas experiencing high or extremely high drought severity. For many of these children and young people, climate vulnerabilities are combined with conflict, extreme poverty and lack of access to basic services such as sanitation and safe water.

In this webinar, Glada Lahn from the Energy, Environment and Resources Programme outlines the key dynamics behind climate-related migration, answering questions pitched by the Common Futures Conversations community.

Glada was speaking at the launch of the Common Futures Conversations challenge on climate migration, which is taking place throughout April 2021.

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