Mercedes Mullins
Climate change is causing an increase in global migration, with an estimated 216 million people migrating within their own countries by 2050, according to research. This is due to a range of factors, including personal safety, property damage, and loss of livelihood. Climate change is a contributing factor to people fleeing their homelands, with 90% of refugees coming from countries on the front lines of the climate emergency, according to the UNHCR. In particular, the western highlands of Guatemala are seeing people leave due to climate change, with similar patterns observed in El Salvador and Honduras. The US border crisis is fueled by these migrants seeking refuge from the impacts of climate change in their home countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| People migrating within the borders of their homelands | 216 million by 2050 |
| People migrating across international borders | N/A |
| People migrating from rural areas to cities | N/A |
| People migrating from Central America | N/A |
| People migrating from Guatemala | N/A |
| People migrating from Honduras | N/A |
| People migrating from El Salvador | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
- Climate change is causing natural disasters that are forcing people to migrate
- Climate migrants are not recognised as refugees
- Climate change is exacerbating poverty, crime, and political instability
- Climate change is causing food insecurity and crop failure
- Climate change is increasing the risk of drought, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events
Climate change is causing natural disasters that are forcing people to migrate
The impact of climate change on migration is already being felt around the world, with wildfires, rising seas, and drought causing people to leave their homes in search of safer and more habitable environments. In California, for example, wildfires have overrun towns, forcing residents to flee. Similarly, in Bangladesh, efforts are being made to identify climate-resilient towns where people can relocate as sea levels rise, rivers erode, and storms become more frequent and severe.
Climate change is also exacerbating existing social and economic issues, such as poverty, crime, and political instability, and fueling tensions over dwindling resources. In El Salvador, for instance, crop failures due to drought or flooding drive people to cities, where they become victims of gang violence and are ultimately forced to leave the country.
While the majority of climate migrants move within the borders of their homelands, the increasing severity of climate-related problems in cities is forcing more people to cross international borders in search of refuge. However, climate migrants are not recognized as refugees under the 1951 Refugee Convention, which only provides legal protection to those fleeing persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group. This lack of recognition makes it challenging for climate migrants to access the support and resources they need.
Despite these challenges, it is crucial for governments to identify and address the needs of climate-displaced people. As the planet continues to warm, the number of people forced to migrate due to climate change is only expected to grow, and the international community will need to work together to find solutions and ensure that those affected have the necessary support and protection.
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Climate migrants are not recognised as refugees
António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General and former UN High Commissioner for Refugees, has stated that those who leave their countries due to climate change or disasters do not qualify for protection under international law. They are not considered refugees and find themselves in a legal void. This is despite the fact that climate change is an urgent and growing threat to national security, contributing to increased natural disasters, refugee flows, and conflicts over resources.
While the term "climate refugee" is often used to describe those displaced by climate change, it is not endorsed by the UNHCR. Instead, the term "persons displaced in the context of disasters and climate change" is more accurate. The UNHCR is providing protection and assistance to refugees and other people displaced by the effects of climate change, as well as helping them increase their resilience to future disasters.
The lack of recognition of climate migrants as refugees highlights the need for a global effort to address the impact of climate change on migration. It also underscores the importance of initiatives such as the Global Compact on Refugees, which recognises the interplay between climate, environmental degradation, and refugee movements.
Efforts to address climate-related migration and displacement have been made by the US government, including through President Biden's Executive Order 14013, which aims to rebuild and enhance programs to resettle refugees and plan for the impact of climate change on migration. The US has developed a three-pronged approach that includes improving access to information, increasing investment in adaptation and resilience programs, and facilitating the protection of individuals at home and abroad.
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Climate change is exacerbating poverty, crime, and political instability
In regions such as Africa and Latin America, climate change often goes overlooked as a contributing factor to migration. However, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 90% of refugees under its mandate are from countries "on the front lines of the climate emergency." This crisis is particularly evident in El Salvador, where individuals are forced to leave their villages due to crop failures caused by droughts or flooding. These individuals often end up in cities, where they become victims of gang violence, ultimately leading them to flee their country to seek safer refuge.
The impact of climate change on migration patterns is significant, and it is predicted that over the next 30 years, approximately 143 million people will be displaced due to the effects of climate change. This includes those affected by rising sea levels, drought, extreme temperatures, and other climate-related disasters. While most climate migrants move within the borders of their homelands, the increasing climate-related challenges faced by cities are forcing more people to cross international borders in search of refuge.
The issue of climate migration is further complicated by the lack of legal recognition and protection for climate migrants. Under the 1951 Refugee Convention, refugee status is only granted to individuals fleeing persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group. As a result, climate migrants do not qualify for this status, despite facing life-threatening circumstances. While the UNHCR has published legal guidance suggesting that climate change should be considered when it intersects with violence, there is still no formalized framework to assess and address the needs of climate migrants.
The US government, under the Biden-Harris administration, has recognized the impact of climate change on migration and has taken steps to address this issue. Initiatives such as the President's Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE) aim to improve the ability of vulnerable communities to adapt to and manage the increasing impacts of climate change. However, the complex interplay between climate change, poverty, crime, and political instability continues to drive the US border crisis, and addressing these challenges will require a comprehensive and coordinated global effort.
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Climate change is causing food insecurity and crop failure
Research by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in Honduras has also revealed a statistically significant relationship between food insecurity and migration. It has been found that drought has a long-term and cumulative impact on the US border apprehension rate. Furthermore, coffee prices, which are increasingly affected by climate change, drive migration the most where coffee is more important to the local economy.
Climate change is causing agricultural challenges, and subsequently, economic and social issues, which are major factors in the US border crisis.
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Climate change is increasing the risk of drought, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events
Drought
Drought is a deficiency of precipitation over an extended period, resulting in water shortages. Climate change increases the likelihood of worsening droughts in many parts of the world, with regions like the US Southwest being particularly vulnerable. Warmer temperatures enhance evaporation, reducing surface water and drying out soils and vegetation. This makes periods of low precipitation even drier.
Rising Sea Levels
Global sea levels have risen by about 8-9 inches since 1880, and the rate of rise is accelerating. This is primarily due to the melting of glaciers and ice sheets and the thermal expansion of seawater as it warms. Rising sea levels threaten infrastructure, increase the risk of flooding, and contaminate freshwater aquifers.
Extreme Weather Events
Climate change is leading to an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, including heat waves, heavy downpours, and major hurricanes. These events can have devastating impacts on communities, causing economic losses, disrupting livelihoods, and endangering lives.
The combination of these factors—increased drought, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events—is contributing to the US border crisis by creating conditions that drive migration and displacement. As certain regions experience more frequent and severe droughts, water scarcity, crop failures, and economic instability can lead individuals to seek better opportunities elsewhere, potentially including migration across borders.
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Frequently asked questions
Climate change is causing an increase in global migration, with an estimated 216 million people migrating within their own countries by 2050, and 143 million people likely to be displaced by climate catastrophes over the next 30 years. This is already happening in Central America, with people from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala among those crossing the US border.
Climate change is causing natural disasters such as wildfires, rising sea levels, drought and extreme weather events which are destroying homes and livelihoods.
President Biden has launched The President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE), committing to work with Congress to fund international climate adaptation at $3 billion annually by 2024. PREPARE aims to enable communities to support themselves where they are, respond to displacement, and assist trapped populations.
Climate change is exacerbating existing issues such as poverty, crime, political instability and conflict over resources. In El Salvador, for example, people are leaving due to crop failure from drought and flooding, and ending up in cities where they become victims of gang violence.
Climate migrants are not considered refugees under the 1951 Refugee Convention, which only provides legal protection to those fleeing persecution due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or social group. This means that there is currently no formalized way to assess the needs of climate migrants and help them.
