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Climate Change Vulnerability and Migration:Climate Change Vulnerability and Migration:Nexus, Challenges and ResponsesNexus, Challenges and Responses

Md. Shahidul HaqueDirector, IOM, Geneva

Climate Vulnerable Forum Ministerial MeetingClimate Vulnerable Forum Ministerial Meeting13-14 November, Dhaka13-14 November, Dhaka

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Introduction

Vulnerability is highly contextual to geographical, socio-economic, gender and age factors

Three ways to look at climate change vulnerability and migration nexus:

First: Displacement / forced migration can be a manifestation of climate change vulnerability

Second: Mass population flows can create new vulnerabilities for mobile populations, as well as for their communities of origin and destination

Third: Migration can also be a strategy to reduce vulnerability to climate change

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Climate Change Vulnerability and Migration

High exposure to climatic events and processes, combined with low resilience / adaptation capacity leaving no choice but to move

Result of lack of alternatives, low levels of development, marginalization, low preparedness…

© International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Displacement / forced migration can be a manifestation of climate change vulnerability

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Climate Change Vulnerability and Migration

Risks incurred during the movement phase

Displacement onto more marginal lands / into hazardous and precarious conditions (e.g. urban slums)

Prolonged displacement (e.g. in camps)

Protection challenges (uncertainty of status)

Challenges for those who stay behind

Migration can create new vulnerabilities

© IOM 2005 - MPK0049 (Photo: Meral Jabucar)

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Climate Change Vulnerability and Migration

Migration as an adaptation strategy

– manages risks– reduces reliance on the

environment for subsistence

– allows for livelihood and income diversification

Migration can be a strategy to reduce vulnerability

© IOM October 2009

Migration as a survival strategy

– “last resort”, in the event of impending or acute natural disaster

Trapped populations vulnerability of those who cannot move

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Conceptualization

A working definition

“Environmental migrants are persons or groups of persons who, for compelling reasons of sudden or progressive change in the environment that adversely affects their lives or living conditions, are obliged to leave their habitual homes, or choose to do so, either temporarily or permanently, and who move either within their country or abroad.”

IOM 2007

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IndividualCulturalSocialfactors

Environmental factors:

Sudden onsetSlow onset

Environmental degradation

Economic factors

Political factors

EnvironmentalMigration

Drivers of Environmental Migration

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Responses to Environmental Migration Vulnerability

Migratory responses:

First: Prevent forced migration resulting from environmental factors to the extent possible.

Second: Provide assistance and protection to affected populations where forced migration does occur, and to seek durable solution to their situation.

Third: Facilitate migration as an adaptation strategy to climate change.

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3. Manage migration:

assistance and protection

1. Prevent forced migration, facilitate

migration as adaptation

2. Prepare for displacement and

relocation

5. Address long-term challenges:

durable solutions, migration,

development and adaptation

Managing Environmental Migration

4. Mitigate impacts of forced or mass migration

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IOM’s Role and Responsibility

Policy Policy dialogue (national, regional, international) Focus on coherent and proactive policymaking

Research Inter-disciplinary research and publications Links between research and policy communities

Operations Humanitarian response to displacement induced by

natural disaster / complex emergencies Global cluster lead for Camp Coordination and

Management in Natural Disasters Reducing vulnerability and promoting adaptation to

environmental and climate change

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IOM Experience

Sudan

Drought, water scarcity and conflict –

Vulnerability mapping for durable solutions to

displacement

Sea-level rise and gradual environmental change –

Sustainable development and climate change adaptation

against migration pressures

Mauritius

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Disasters, erosion and sea-level rise –

Emergency response, disaster risk reduction and capacity building

Bangladesh Eastern Africa

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Cross-border pastoralism, resource scarcity and conflict –

Ensuring pastoralist livelihoods, enabling

adaptation through mobility

IOM Experience

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Degradation and disasters, cumulative vulnerability, complex emergencies –

Disaster risk reduction and

livelihood stabilization

Haiti Myanmar

© International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

High vulnerability, low preparedness –

Emergency response, urgent health care and shelter

assistance for the displaced

IOM Experience

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Water scarcity and migration pressures –

Traditional adaptation strategies to stabilize

livelihoods

Azerbaijan Colombia

Protecting the most vulnerable – Regional capacity building in

disaster risk reduction

Environmental vulnerabilities – Adaptation through temporary

labour mobility

IOM Experience

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Way Forward

1. Manage knowledge and improve data

2. Enhance capacities: policy, legal instruments, institutional structure and operational mechanisms

3. Build comprehensive migration policies: migration, adaptation, development, disaster risk management

4. Operationalize migration: as adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies

5. Mobilize resources: integrated policy development and planning

6. Commit politically at high level: dialogue, partnerships and empowerment of affected people

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Thank you

and

Discussion