IOM calls for immediate action on human mobility for climate change

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is calling for immediate action on human mobility in contexts of climate change, environmental degradation and disasters as the 27th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) began in Egypt on Sunday.

In a report Friday (4 November), the UN body said that climate change has had a big hand in reshaping migration patterns in recent years.

"It is long overdue to follow the detailed agreements made in the context of climate negotiations, disaster risk reduction, migration governance and other processes affected by the current climate crisis," read the report.

The IOM said the agreements need to be urgently matched with action on the ground in national and local contexts.

To support States and the wider international community in this implementation stage, IOM has launched its new flagship report. According to the IDMC's Global Report on Internal Displacement 2022, disasters linked to natural hazards led to 23.7 million internal displacements.

"This report sets out a way forward to provide people with the right to choose and define mobility in a changing climate," says IOM Director General António Vitorino.

"There is no time to lose. We must accelerate implementation of these solutions at the local level with communities."

The report, People on the Move in a Changing Climate – Linking Policy, Evidence and Action, provides communities, partners, governments and other UN agencies with guidelines to scale up the implementation of adaptative action.

The three recommendations are providing solutions for people to stay- averting and minimising displacement though disaster risk reduction and in situ adaptation; providing solutions for people on the move- minimising and better addressing losses and damages, including displacement through anticipatory action; and providing solutions for people to move- enabling safe and regular migration

The same objectives have already been set in the IOM Institutional Strategy on Migration, Environment and Climate Change 2021–2030.

The new report also highlights practical solutions implemented by IOM and global partners to inspire policy makers to identify and replicate good practices.

For instance, community engagement in Burundi has reduced risks for settlements and housing linked to natural hazards, in addition to population movements. In Tajikistan, providing training on climate change adaptation and financial literacy and management to women who have chosen to stay has helped them with channeling their remittances into climate change adaptation and resilience-building.

IOM remains fully committed to stand together with the international community and take urgent action to design and implement sustainable solutions to assist and protect those who are most affected by the adverse impacts of climate change, environmental degradation and disasters, including migrants and internally displaced persons (IDPs).