Climate Crisis Induced Migration: A Global Framework to Minimize and Manage Large-Scale Climate Refugees and Migrants

Abstract

The ongoing climate crisis will force the migration of up to 1.2 billion people by 2050. Since climate displacement has already begun, having policies in place to mitigate predictable issues that will arise from mass migration and safeguard vulnerable populations is essential. We recommend assigning a special “climate refugee/migrant” status to ensure human rights protections for these refugees/migrants. We also propose preventative measures to help reduce climate-related immigration and essential measures to facilitate refugees adapting to new regions. Finally, we recommend strategies to implement a “Loss and Damage” fund for the developing countries most vulnerable to climate-related disasters. These policies address a critical gap in climate migration policy and could inform the upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP 28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dubai in November 2023