Intersections – Climate and Migration

As the global climate crisis intensifies, millions of people find themselves caught in a precarious web of environmental degradation, displacement, and migration. Against a backdrop of poverty, food insecurity and conflict, communities find themselves uprooted.

The World Bank estimates that by 2050, climate change could force the displacement of 216 million people. While climate change affects every corner of the globe, some regions bear the brunt more than others. Where vulnerability intersects with climate change, the impact is particularly pronounced, with Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia and the Pacific and South Asia among the worst affected regions.

Many communities are already on the frontline of climate-induced displacement. For example, last year saw severe droughts in the Sahel, affecting millions of displaced people and local communities in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.

This year, we’ve seen the impacts of an intensifying crisis across the globe in devastating floods across east Africa and Latin America, droughts in the south of the African continent, record breaking heat across Asia, and the global average temperature record being broken each month since May 2023. Spurred on by the El Niño weather phenomenon, these conditions foster instability and devastate livelihoods, pushing communities to look for more stable living conditions.

The international development community recognises the urgent need to address climate-induced displacement and build resilience. By understanding the linkages between climate change and displacement, interventions can be tailored to protect vulnerable communities. Join us as we hear from Yannick Beaudoin, Director of Climate Change at Alinea, Dr Ilan Kelman, Professor of Disasters and Health at University College London and Dr Cláudia Santos, Independent Consultant and Researcher who will discuss examples of programmes and approaches in this key nexus, challenges and opportunities to achieve social value through these interventions.