Authors: McEntee Law Group and Grace Duggan
Climate change has become increasingly recognized as a significant driver of human migration in recent years. It is one of the many hot topics related to immigration that is sure to play a part in the upcoming presidential elections. Climate migration is more complex than the name might suggest and requires a more in-depth look at a variety of factors that are contributing to this phenomenon. This article explores how climate change drives human migration, who qualifies as a climate migrant, current patterns of climate migration, and the legal barriers climate migrants face.
How does climate change drive human migration?
Climate change contributes to human migration in direct ways such as sudden onset natural disasters and slow onset environmental changes. Events such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, made more likely by climate change, can destroy homes and livelihoods, forcing people to relocate temporarily or permanently. Gradual changes like desertification, sea-level rise, and prolonged droughts can make inhabited areas unlivable, pushing communities to migrate for better living conditions. Climate change also contributes to human migration indirectly by exacerbating issues such as food insecurity, water scarcity, conflict, and political instability. Climate change impacts agricultural productivity, leading to competition over scarce resources. This scarcity of resources can contribute to conflict and political instability as people grow dissatisfied with their quality of life within a country, which can, in turn, drive migration.
Who qualifies as a climate migrant?
A climate migrant can be defined as someone who moves either within their country or across borders, primarily due to the impacts of climate change. This includes people displaced by the climate factors mentioned above. However, distinguishing climate migrants from other migrants can be challenging due to the often multifaceted reasons behind migration decisions and how climate change can exacerbate other problems that might drive a person out of their home.
Current patterns of climate migration
Internal migration, meaning migrants moving within their own country from regions more affected by climate change to those less affected, is the most common form of climate migration. While less common, some climate migrants cross international borders, often moving to neighboring countries for more safety and stability. It should also be noted that some climate-induced displacements are temporary, with people intending to return home when conditions improve. Others, such as those displaced by slow onset climate change, seek more permanent migration to new places to rebuild their lives.
Climate migration is a global issue felt disproportionately in countries that have historically not contributed to climate change. For example, Bangladesh and Somalia each recorded over 1 million displacements due to cyclones and droughts in 2022. Models suggest that Sub-Saharan Africa and the Asia-Pacific region will face the largest future internal climate migration. While low- and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by this issue, it is also happening in high-income countries that have contributed to climate change. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 3.2 million adults were displaced due to natural disasters in 2022, and the U.S. government has begun assisting in the relocation of entire communities that are vulnerable to sea-level rise.
Legal barriers for climate migrants
One of the biggest legal barriers faced by climate migrants is that they currently lack legal recognition. There is no international legal framework recognizing this category of migrants, which makes it difficult for them to seek protection through asylum or refugee status. In 2021, the Biden Administration signed an executive order focused on planning for climate migration and released a report on the effects of climate change on migration. This was a big step in recognizing climate migrants and provided a helpful framework for considering this issue. However, three years later, little progress has been made on the report’s recommendations, and climate migrants remain largely unsupported by U.S. immigration policy.
In conclusion, climate change is a significant driver of human migration, affecting millions worldwide. While the concept of climate migrants is gaining recognition, there remains a critical need to not only attempt to mitigate the climate change causing the migration but also for legal frameworks and policies that address the unique vulnerabilities and rights of climate migrants.
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