• Migration

Migration

This paper analyses the relationship that coexists between migration and climate change. It looks at the nature of forced migration and discusses development implications, and policy appropriate responses.

It argues that on current climate change scenarios, a certain amount of forced climate migration is “locked in”. But to what extent depends on the international community’s mitigation and adaptation plans now. It is clear that the international community has to face up to the prospect of large-scale displacement caused by climate change. There is a need for international recognition of the problem, a better understanding of its dimensions and a willingness to tackle it.

It is argued that this recognition must take several forms:

• the international community needs to acknowledge formally the predicament of forced climate migrants. improve availability of information and support to parties

• development and adaptation policies in potential source countries of forced climate migrants need to focus on reducing people’s vulnerability, moving people from marginal areas and supporting livelihoods that are more resilient

• a great deal more research is needed to understand the causes and consequences of climate migration and to monitor numbers

• the international community needs to help generate incentives to keep skilled labour in developing countries but also to allow developing countries to capitalise on the benefits that fluid labour markets can bring.

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