María José Palomeque, climate justice activist, tells us about the impacts of “climate migration” in the most affected areas.
The climate crisis has a connotation of social justice and, like any multidimensional problem, has its roots in social, cultural and economic inequalities. The consequences of climate change are systematic and transversal, which makes the environmental problem multidimensional.
This ranges from the destruction of historic architecture to lack of income due to droughts. Currently, the climate crisis is an inevitable issue in the lives of most people, especially those who live in the most vulnerable regions.
Figures from UN Migration estimate that, in less than three decades, there will be up to one billion “climate displaced people.”
According to recent statistics released by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, more than 376 million people around the world have been forcibly displaced due to floods, windstorms, earthquakes or droughts since 2008, with a record 32.6 million in 2022 alone.
Climate change and its relationship with migration in the most affected countries
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) defines climate migration as the movement of a person or groups of people who, due to climate change, are forced to leave their usual place of residence, either temporarily or permanently. But why does climate migration or displacement mainly affect developing countries?
This is because, in the most affected areas, the climate crisis is related to issues of race, gender, geographical origin and socioeconomic situation. Thus, the effects of climate change in the area potentiate already existing problems, one of them migration. For this reason, the countries most affected by the climate crisis are island ones and those that are developing.
According to UNCTAD in its 2022 report, less developed countries have contributed almost 1% of global emissions. However, they have seen climate-related hazards increase fivefold since the 1970s in their regions. In addition to this, the World Meteorological Organization declared in 2020 that 70% of deaths caused by climate-related disasters in the last 50 years have been in less developed countries. Climate migration occurs in situations of environmental crises and, unfortunately, the countries with the most problems in economic and social issues are in the first line of defense.
Women and girls as climate displaced
Talking about climate change and migration also means recognizing the role of women and girls as one of the groups most affected by the problem.
According to UN Environment, an estimated 80 percent of people displaced by climate change are women. Furthermore, a recent UN Women report noted that one in ten women in the world lives in extreme poverty. The reason behind the specific effects on girls and women is related to the existing territorial problems in these regions. Insecurity, economic and social and rights inequality affect how countries and communities receive the impacts of the environmental crisis.
However, in addition to representing a direct threat to their lives, Climate change exposes women to other risks serious in contexts of displacement and migration.
In an interview on the topic with environmental and gender activist Zayna Z., she shared that “emphasizing the impact of climate displacement on women is crucial to addressing and analyzing its impact on their lives, including gender-based violence and economic insecurity.”
Furthermore, she mentioned that “this awareness of the problem would allow for the development of clearer adaptation strategies and would amplify the voices of migrant women, guaranteeing equitable solutions and resilience in the climate justice movement.”
Climate migration and its relationship with the conflict in the territories
An important conversation that is emerging in migratory areas due to environmental issues is the possible relationship between climate displacement and territorial conflicts. Mainly by finding a relationship between the problem and droughts, shortages of food and even drinking water.
In an interview with social justice activist Name V., she tells us that from her perspective on the subject, “our global context of ecological instability increases the vulnerability and interdependence of our territories and communities, in such fully dynamic ways. and global that I would even propose calling it a new era of generalized hyperterritoriality.”
In this sense, we can understand that, when facing a crisis that modifies not only our geographical or territorial organization, but also our perception of current political and economic systems, the issue of the climate crisis addresses a human rights issue. This first, in turn, means that the lack of resources ends in the beginning of a new era of territorial conflicts.
A new framework for displacement and climate migration
Climate migration is expected to be one of the biggest challenges in the coming years; However, we still do not have an international legal framework in this regard.
It is important to mention that other organizations, agencies and civil society are currently working on its creation.
The International Court of Justice, by mandate of the UN Assembly, is working on preparing an advisory opinion on the obligation of States with respect to climate change, one of its areas being mobility due to climate issues.
In 2010, the UN recognized the term climate migration for the first time during the adoption of the Cancún Adaptation Framework and by 2015, with the Paris Agreement, its importance in the international climate policy framework was strengthened.
The political and social recognition of climate migrants, their problems and needs in government frameworks at the regional level is imperative. Mainly because climate migration is strongly linked to structural problems such as gender inequality, poverty and insecurity.
Talking about climate migration is talking about human rights and environmental justice.
Migration due to climate issues is not a future issue, it is a present problem and environmental policies must reflect it.
María José Palomeque is part of the Girl Up México community, an organization led by youth who train, inspire and connect with other activists for gender equality. click here to read more about Girl Up Mexico and their work promoting young agents of change.