21/10/11

Yesterday, the UK Government Office for Science has released the findings from its latest Foresight project examining how future environmental change could affect human migration around the world.
 

What is the Foresight report?

This report represents two years worth of research by some of the world’s foremost experts on migration and climate science.

The study has been sponsored by the Home Office and the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and will inform the Government’s direction on challenges and opportunities that could result from changing migration patterns and how these may be addressed.
 

Environmental and climatic displacement – EJF’s perspective

Responding to the report, EJF’s Executive Director, Steve Trent, said,

“The fact that the UK Government has invested significant resources into a two year research project on climate change and human mobility is indicative of how serious the situation is. Already, there are millions of people displaced by floods and storms each year – almost all within their own countries.

Addressing this issue requires the UK Government to look beyond its own borders to support those affected and take on its fair share of the climate change burden by cutting emissions. The Government has recognized the issues at stake, now we will see if they are willing to act.”
 

In light of the report findings, EJF makes the following statement.

EJF:

  • Supports the clear distinction made by the Foresight report between migration and displacement and its conclusion that facilitating migration can take people out of high risk areas.


  • Advocates that adaptation in situ (to avoid the need for migration and to prevent displacement) must be a priority for funding and logistical resources.


  • Highlights that far greater assistance is also urgently needed for people who have already been displaced.


  • Notes that 38 million people have been displaced by extreme weather events in 2010; in 2011 floods in Southeast Asia alone are affecting tens of millions of people – to date, floods and related disasters in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines have killed more than 700 people and affected eight million others. Meanwhile drought in Africa is a significant contributory factor to the migration that has given rise to Dadaab, the world’s largest refugee camp.


  • Urges that greater focus is placed on the threat posed by climate change to human rights, and strongly advocates that the UK Government adopt a rights-based approach in its strategy to tackle the human impacts of climate change.
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    Taking action

    EJF reiterates that whilst migration can be an effective adaptation strategy in some circumstances, its own investigations clearly indicate that environmental insecurity is acting as a primary driver of displacement.

    No country is insulated from climate change, but some of the world’s poorest countries are the most vulnerable to the damaging consequences of climate change.

    Already, many people have lost their livelihoods, homes and land and have been forced to move as a result of the negative impacts of climate change.

    Steve Trent said, “Our own research leads us to conclude that climate change is exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and pushing households and communities into desperate situations. Life for many people is getting harder.

    The support system we rely on for humanitarian relief cannot extend to every crisis because there aren’t the resources or legal tools available. A coordinated, international response to climate change needs new means by which to respond to climate displacement.”

    EJF is calling on national governments to review their own immigration and asylum policies in the context of environmentally-induced displacement and to support a new, legally-binding instrument that would recognize and offer assistance to the people affected.
     

    We need your help

    There are lots of ways to get involved with EJF’s work to protect and assist people who are forcibly displaced by deteriorating environmental conditions associated with climate change.

    1. Buy EJF’s ‘No More Hot Air’ t-shirt designed exclusively for our ‘climate refugees’ campaign

    2. Take on a challenge for climate justice

    3. Become an EJF hero and donate to our fund to build a wind turbine for the No Place like Home campaign



    Read the Foresight report in full here