10 things to know about climate change and displacement

Climate-fuelled disasters are a driver of global internal displacement and those who have contributed least to the climate crisis are affected the hardest.

Every second, one person is displaced by an extreme climate disaster like flooding, storms, cyclones, drought, wildfires, landslides, and extreme temperatures.

It is expected that the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance will grow exponentially in countries vulnerable to climate change.

Those who have contributed least to the climate and environment crisis are the hardest affected, and least equipped to respond and adapt to climate shocks and hazards.

This is the backdrop for when 40,000 delegates, including heads of state and world leaders, meet at the COP28 in Dubai between 30 November and 12 December. They will be there to build consensus and facilitate progress on climate change mitigation.

Here are 10 things you should know about displacement in the context of climate change:

According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), climate change is the defining crisis of our time and displacement is one of its most devastating consequences.

The climate crisis is driving displacement and making life harder for those already forced to flee. Entire populations are already suffering the impacts of climate change, but vulnerable people living in some of the most fragile and conflict-affected countries are disproportionately affected.

Refugees, internally displaced people (IDPs) and stateless people are on the frontlines of the climate emergency. Many are living in areas prone to climate risks, where they typically lack the resources to adapt to an increasingly constrained environment.

According to UNHCR, the term “climate refugee” is misleading because in international law the word “refugee” describes people fleeing war or persecution and who have crossed an international border. Weather-related hazards typically create internal displacement and only sometimes force people to cross borders.

UNHCR does not endorse the use of the term “climate refugee” and holds that “persons displaced in the context of disasters and climate change” is more accurate.

As most people who have been displaced in the context of climate change and disasters remain inside their own country, the state remains obligated to protect, promote and fulfil the human rights of internally displaced people within their territory without discrimination.

There are also regional instruments that protect cross-border climate and disaster displaced people, such as the IGAD freedom of movement protocol.

For those displaced across borders, international refugee law may be relevant in some circumstances. And for those who do not meet the refugee criteria, international human rights law may be applicable based on the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits the return of people to a country where they have a real risk of serious or irreparable harm upon return, including torture, ill-treatment and other serious human rights violations.

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The International Rescue Committee (IRC) have analysed where climate crises are likely to occur and whether these affected countries have the capacity to respond and protect vulnerable communities.

According to their list, these are the 10 countries at most risk of climate disaster:

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) works in nine of the ten countries listed above.

Forty per cent of the world’s refugees, and 70 per cent of people who are internally displaced due to conflict or violence, live in countries that are highly climate vulnerable, according to UNHCR.

While these populations are often highly exposed and vulnerable to climate-related shocks, they have fewer resources and support to adapt to an increasingly hostile environment. This raises concerns about equal access to rights and discrimination.

A report from the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNDRR, shows that not only are those who are forced to flee affected, but also host families and communities with whom they take refuge, and people who remain behind in unsafe and deteriorating conditions.

Displacement may disrupt family, community, and cultural life, destroy livelihoods, and create unemployment. It may also interrupt education, cause, or aggravate health problems, reduce access to basic services and make it difficult to claim property rights. Furthermore, it can prompt or aggravate safety and security concerns, heighten the risk of trafficking and lead to poverty.

The UNDRR-report underlines that certain groups, such as women, children and young people, older people, people with disabilities, single headed households, indigenous communities, migrants, people previously displaced such as refugees, and other marginalised groups, often encounter additional challenges when displaced and in recovering from displacement.

“Loss and damage” is the phrase used for the destruction already being wreaked by the climate crisis on lives, livelihoods and infrastructure.

Loss and damage disproportionately affect vulnerable groups – those on the front lines of the crisis, who have contributed least to climate change and are least equipped to respond. Increasingly, many communities are experiencing climate impacts that are impossible to adapt to, leading to permanent loss and damage.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, UNFCCC, has defined displacement as non-economic loss and damage. They refer to a broad range of losses that are not defined in financial terms and not commonly traded in markets. They may impact individuals (loss of life, health and mobility), society (loss of territory, cultural heritage, indigenous or local knowledge, societal or cultural identity) or the environment (loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services).

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), those who have contributed least to the climate crisis are being disproportionately affected by it. “Climate justice” advocates that the responsibilities in addressing climate change should be divided according to who is contributing most to the problem, while addressing systemic, socioeconomic, and intergenerational inequalities.

“Climate finance” refers to developed countries giving money to help developing countries build clean energy systems, reduce emissions, and cope with the overall impacts of climate change.

Displaced people have lived experience, agency, knowledge, capacities and expertise that should be recognised, respected and mobilised. However, too often, displaced people have minimal access to resources and assistance.

New climate financing options are currently being negotiated by states in climate change negotiations to compensate vulnerable countries for losses and damages caused by climate change. This will be one of the key issues up for negotiations at the upcoming COP28 summit in Dubai.

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