According to this organization, climate migration is one of the most serious impacts of the climate emergency and one of which public opinion is least aware. Among the reasons, he points out, is that climate change is primarily related to the effects that warming has on our planet, not more specific problems.
“The debate has started for macro in general. In addition, a tendency to normalize the status of the migrant comes into play. It is often thought that they are people running away from an uncertain solution in search of more opportunities, without trying to find more specific reasons,” explains Cortés.
Statistics, Forecasts and Solutions
Already in 2018, the World Bank reported that if no progress is made in mitigating climate change, 143 million people could be displaced from their countries in 2050, as adverse weather effects Only in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America.
Three years later, in 2021, the sixth report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned that, whatever we do, the average temperature over the next two decades will rise by 1.5°C compared to the 19th century. If greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are not reduced, the temperature could rise by 4.5 °C by the year 2100. Something that will undoubtedly have significant consequences for the climate and – as the report points out – will increase the movement. of people.
The latest IPCC report is also a reminder that climate change is global, but the effects are local. They affect developing countries most strongly and this means the gap between prevention and protection mechanisms Results for people may not be the same in different regions of the world.
“We cannot look at a major fire in the United States with the same eyes where the government can relocate people (with the trauma that comes with the loss of the environment and the home) as in the drought in Ethiopia, where the population has to do without the support of the state,” reflects Cortés . “The positive reading is that humanitarian systems are much more responsive today than they were a few decades ago, but these differences still exist.”
For this reason, the main solutions to address this problem (besides doing everything possible to reduce global warming and thus prevent the increase in frequency and intensity of extreme weather phenomena) include early warning systems and improving the service network. It is also important to make progress on regulatory issues and issues related to public awareness and economic policies that protect populations in the most disadvantaged regions.
At COP27, the creation of a loss and damage compensation mechanism So that developed countries can economically compensate the poorest people for the damage that has happened and will continue to happen due to climate change. While it is yet to be decided which countries will finance the fund and who will benefit from it, its creation has been seen as a step towards finally bringing climate justice.