The climate crisis and migration are two of the most critical – and controversial – issues of the current era. They are also inescapably linked, and if we are to address both then we must do more than mitigate negative impacts of climate change. We need to put people at the centre of our strategies and ensure that their human rights are protected as the world changes around them.
The International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), which takes place this week at the United Nations in New York City, is an important opportunity to press this message home. Advocates must use it to advance a strong, positive narrative on global migration and to convince delegates that a joint agenda addressing the climate crisis is needed.
Climate change: a driver of migration
The Global Compact on Migration (GCM), the subject of the IMRF, was signed in 2018. Only four years later, climate experts, including those within the UN, announced the acceleration of global heating beyond previous predictions. Advocates are urging countries to act boldly to mitigate the effects, and strategically adapt wherever losses haven’t already become permanent.
