Climate refugees - a growing global crisis

Climate-driven migration is a major concern for governments around the world. The global climate crisis is no longer a distant future, but a present reality. Every year, millions of people are forced to flee their homes due to natural disasters exacerbated by climate change.

The UN refugee agency has warned that the number of refugees in regions particularly affected by climate change will increase unless investments are made to protect the environment. The UNHCR report was presented at the UN Climate Change Conference, or COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan. "As climate shocks hit harder, more often and in more places, displaced people are increasingly forced to move again and again in search of a safe and habitable space," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. The UNHCR said that people are fleeing many regions because of violence and conflict, but this is also being fueled by the struggle for resources that are dwindling due to climate change. Fresh water sources are running out, land is becoming barren, sea levels are rising, and people are having to look elsewhere for their livelihoods, the UNHCR said. Most refugees are fleeing to neighboring countries, which are themselves severely affected by climate change. According to UNHCR, 75 percent of the 123 million people who had fled their homes by the end of last year and were living elsewhere were in countries where the risk of climate-related disasters was particularly high. In the past decade, an estimated 220 million people have been forced to leave their villages and cities at least temporarily due to weather-related disasters related to climate change.

• Causes of climate migration

The main causes of climate migration are: 1. Rising sea levels:

Coastal communities in Pacific islands such as Kiribati and Tuvalu face an existential threat from rising sea levels. Low-lying areas are becoming uninhabitable, forcing people to migrate; 2. Extreme weather events: Hurricanes, floods and severe droughts have become more frequent and devastating. For example, Cyclone Idai in 2019 left tens of thousands of people homeless in Mozambique. This fall, the US, Cuba and Spain were hit hard by extreme events; 3. Desertification and land degradation: In arid regions such as the Sahel in Africa, desertification limits access to essential resources such as water and food. People in these areas migrate in search of better living conditions; 4. Wildfires: In Australia, California and other parts of the world, devastating fires destroy entire communities, leading to mass evacuations.

• Impact on communities and destination countries

Climate migration puts significant pressure on host countries and communities. Overcrowded cities, inadequate infrastructure and limited resources can lead to social and economic tensions. Climate refugees also risk being marginalised or denied access to essential services such as housing, health and education.

• Lack of an international legal framework

Climate refugees do not benefit from the legal protections offered to refugees fleeing war or persecution. Currently, there is no global legal framework to regulate climate migration, leaving these people in a legal grey area.

Specialists propose various solutions, including: Adaptation to climate change. Investments in resilient infrastructure and sustainable agricultural technologies can reduce the need for forced migration; Recognition of climate refugees. Reforming the international legal framework to include the protection of climate refugees is essential. International organizations, such as the UN, are discussing the possibility of expanding the definition of refugee status; International cooperation. The climate crisis is a global problem that requires a coordinated response. Developed countries must support vulnerable states through financing, technology transfer and humanitarian assistance.

Climate refugees represent a complex challenge of the 21st century, requiring urgent and innovative solutions. Recognizing this category and integrating them into an appropriate legal and social framework are essential steps to ensure a sustainable and equitable future for all.

• Theo James: Refugees should be included in climate policies

Refugees should be included in climate policies, said actor Theo James, a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), ahead of his participation in COP29, where he will launch an appeal for more support for those affected by the impacts of climate change. Theo James, whose grandfather fled Greece for Syria during World War II, will join representatives of the UN refugee agency and other refugee campaigners at the climate summit in Baku. The actor, known for the films "The Gentlemen" and "Divergent," traveled to the Hodh Chargui region in southeastern Mauritania last month, where he met with refugees who have fled conflict in Mali in a region already plagued by poverty, limited access to basic services and climate shocks. The Sahel, a semi-arid region of Africa, has been hit by extreme weather events, including high temperatures and drought. "Refugees are not the largest contributors to global warming and carbon emissions, but they are among the most vulnerable," James told Reuters.

The COP29 summit has been dubbed the "Climate Finance COP" as its main objective is to agree on a sum of money to go each year to help developing countries meet the costs of climate change.