Climate change and associated environmental degradation hold the potential to displace millions of people in coming decades. Estimates of the likely number of people who may be affected by environmental migration vary widely and there have been few efforts to date to systematically analyze the triggers, patterns and policy implications of such trends. An emerging body of inter-disciplinary research is beginning to look at key aspects of these issues with the aim of helping policy makers to make informed decisions on how to prepare for, prevent or respond to climate change related human mobility in an effective manner.
The United Nations University Office in New York is organizing a multi-part panel discussion of policy perspectives on how climate change affects human migration and displacement (panel 1) as the impacts of climate change become more pronounced in vulnerable areas of the world. UNU, together with partners and leading experts, have created this event to complement the message of the Secretary General to the 64th General Assembly: to reach a strong agreement in Copenhagen on combating climate change and supporting adaptation. This event provides delegates and other interested individuals examples and ways forward to promote adaptation and resilience in the face of climate change.
To help fill some of the policy-related gaps in knowledge, we propose to hold an informal roundtable/discussion round/side event at the fringes of the 64th General Assembly. The event has three objectives, linked to expected outcomes:
Increase awareness about the spectrum of impacts climate change has on human migration and displacement
Identify key patterns from empirical research, develop a differentiated understanding of climate change impacts on human mobility
Discuss emerging policy questions that will need to be addressed in the future to manage climate change impacts on human migration and displacement
Introductory remarks William Lacy Swing - Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Susan F. Martin - Director of the Institute for the Study of International Migration in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University
Koko Warner - Head of the Environmental Migration, Social Vulnerability, and Adaptation Section at the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)
Hansjoerg Strohmeyer - Chief of the Policy Development and Studies Branch, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Thomas Loster - Chairman Munich Re Foundation
Frank Laczko - Head of Research, International Organization of Migration (IOM)