Download joint submission - The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre

WarsawInternationalMechanism
ExecutiveCommittee(WIMExCom)WorkPlan
ActionArea6onMigration,DisplacementandHumanMobility
SubmissionoftheAdvisoryGrouponClimateChangeandHumanMobilitycomposedoftheUnitedNations’HighCommissionerforRefugees(UNHCR),theInternational
OrganizationforMigration(IOM),theUnitedNationsUniversityInstituteforEnvironmentandHumanSecurity(UNU-EHS),theUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme
(UNDP),theNorwegianRefugeeCouncilanditsInternalDisplacementMonitoring
Centre(NRC/IDMC),RefugeesInternational(RI),theUniversityofLiège(ULg),and
theArabNetworkforEnvironmentandDevelopment(RAED)
ActionArea6oftheWIMExCom’sinitialtwo-yearworkplanfocusesonenhancingtheunderstandingofandexpertiseonhowtheimpactsofclimatechangeareaffectingpatternsofmigration, displacement and human mobility; and the application of such understanding and
expertise.
ToassisttheExecutiveCommitteeinthistask,relevantorganizationsandexpertshavebeen
invitedtoprovidetotheWIMExCom,byMonday16May2016,knowledge,dataandscientiJic
information on both internal and cross-border migration, displacement and other forms of
humanmobilityowingtofactorsrelatedtoclimatechangeimpacts,includingincombination
withotherfactors.TheWIMExComisparticularlyinterestedingatheringinformationonpotentialchallengesandpossiblesolutions.Inputmayinclude:
a)Informationonfactorsthataffectmovementsordecisionstostayofvulnerablepopulations(characteristics,underlyingvulnerabilities,circumstances,whereinterventionsmay
beneededtohelpparticulargroups)associatedwiththeimpactsofclimatechangeindistinction to or in conjunction with impacts related to climate variability and non-climate
relatedimpacts;
b)Policy,normativeandinstitutionalchallengesandopportunitiesassociatedwithminimizing,avertingandaddressingbothinternalandcross-borderdisplacement,includingin
thecontextofalternativeclimatechangetrajectories(e.g.1.5°C,2°C,etc.)includingchallengesofcommunitiesnotinapositiontomigrate(socalled“trappedpopulations”).
I.
Informationonfactorsthataffectmovementsordecisionstostayofvulnerable
populations (characteristics, underlying vulnerabilities, circumstances, where
interventionsmaybeneededtohelpparticulargroups)associatedwiththeimpactsofclimatechangeindistinctiontoorinconjunctionwithimpactsrelated
toclimatevariabilityandnon-climaterelatedimpacts;
a.
Howdoadverseeffectsofclimatechangeimpactdisplacement,migrationand
otherformsofhumanmobility?
TheIPCCFirstAssessmentreportconcludedthatoneofthelargestimpactsofclimate
changecouldbeonhumanmobility.Sincethen,understandingofthemobilityaspectsof
climatechangehavesubstantiallyincreased.ThelatestIPCCreport(IPCCAR5)concludes
thattheadverseeffectslinkedtoclimatechangeareanticipatedtoaffecthumanmobilityin
atleastthreeways:
(1)anincreaseinthefrequencyandintensityofextremeweathereventsforces
peoplefromtheirhomesonatemporaryandsometimespermanentbasis.
(2)Increasedwarminganddroughtaffectsagriculturalproductionandaccessto
cleanwater.
(3)Sealevelchangeshavebeenprojectedtoleadtopermanentdisplacementsas
coastalareasbecomeuninhabitable.
(4)moreindirectly,throughamplifyingpovertyandeconomicshocksthatcontributetothepotentialforviolentconYlictintheformofcivilwarandintergroupviolence.1
Howmanypeoplearedisplacedoratriskofdisplacementinthecontextof
b.
climatechange?
•
ThereissigniYicantquantitativeandqualitativedataonpastdisplacementassociated
withdisastersbroughtonbysudden-onsetnaturalhazardssuchasYloods,stormsand
wildYires.Consideringtheimpactofsudden-onsetweather-relatedhazardsorshocks,
between 2008 and 2015, there was an average of at least 21.5 million new displacementsofpeopleeachyear.2 Thereisnoglobalestimateofthetotalnumberofpeople
livingindisplacement,however,includinghundredsofthousandswhoremaindisplacedforprolongedperiodsoftimesthatgoonforyearstodecadesratherthandaysto
months before they are able to settle in their former homes or elsewhere.3 The Fifth
AssessmentReportoftheIPCC(AR5)concludedthatlevelsofdisplacementrelatedto
bothlargeandsmall-scale,recurrenthazardslinkedtoclimatechangewillincreasein
thecomingdecades.Climatechangeislikelytoexacerbateanupwardtrendindisaster
displacementasthenumberofvulnerablepeoplelivinginhazardousareasincreases,
throughpopulationgrowthandrapid,unplannedurbanization(andanexplosioninthe
numberofpeoplelivinginslum-likeconditions),poordevelopmentpracticesandother
factors.
1IPCCFifthAssessmentReport,WorkingGroupII,“ClimateChange2014:Impacts,AdaptationandVulnera -
bility,”Chapter12,pp.766-71;Chapter21,pp.1175https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg2/
2IDMCGlobalReportonInternalDisplacement2016,May2016.h=p://www.internal-displacement.org/globalre -
port2016/
3ibid.AlsoseeIDMCGlobalEstimates2015:Peopledisplacedbydisasters,July2015.Chapter5,pp.47-74.
http://www.internal-displacement.org/publications/2015/global-estimates-2015-people-displaced-by-disasters/
•
ThereisanothersigniYicantgapinthecurrentdata:displacementrelatedtotheimpact
ofslowonsethazardsandgradualprocessesofenvironmentaldegradationthatmayin
turnbelinkedtoclimatechange.TheseprocessescanbeasigniYicantdriverofmigrationanddisplacementastheyerodelivelihoods,foodsecurity,healthandotherfactors
necessaryforpeopletosurviveandprosperintheirhomeareas.4Morequalitativeand
quantitative national assessments are needed to understand human mobility in the
context of these climate-related stressors, including recurrent drought, land degradation,desertiYication,sealevelriseandtemperaturerise.5 •
Althoughdisplacementinthecontextofdisastersandclimatechangeispredominantly
internal,moredataisneededonpeopledisplacedacrossinternationalbordersinthese
contexts.
•
An additional challenge, especially when analyzing the link between climate change
and human mobility and quantifying movements, is determining the extent to which
climate change – in combination with socio-economic or other non-climate factors –
wasacauseofthemovement.Theinteractionsofmobilitywithclimatechangeimpacts
aremultifacetedandmotivationsarecomplex. Environmentalconditionsand altered
ecosystem services are just some among the many reasons why people move,
whichusuallyinteractswitharangeofothereconomic,political,social,anddemographicfactors.Climatechangeimpactsmaythusplayaroleinthesedecisions,butdirectattributionisoftendifYiculttoestablishinrelationtospeciYiceventsandcontexts,
and is the subject of extensive research. In view of this complex causality, estimating
futureglobaldisplacementisfraughtwithuncertainty.6 •
Addingtothisuncertaintyisthefactthattheextentofhumanmobilityinthecontextof
adverse effects of climate change will be highly dependent upon not only the rate of
warmingandchangestotheclimatesystem,theperceptionsofvulnerablepopulations
4IDMCGlobalEstimates2015:Peopledisplacedbydisasters,July2015http://www.internal-displacemen-
t.org/publications/2015/global-estimates-2015-people-displaced-by-disasters/
5IOM’sAssessingtheEvidenceseries.countryandregionalassessmentsonenvironmentalandclimatemi-
gration(2014-2016).PapuaNewGuinea,2014(www.environmentalmigration.iom.int/assessing-evidencemigration-environment-and-climate-change-papua-new-guinea).Haiti,2015(www.environmentalmigration.iom.int/fr/deYis-enjeux-et-politiques-migrations-environnement-et-changements-climatiques-en-haiti).
DominicanRepublic,2016(https://publications.iom.int/es/system/Yiles/assessing_the_evidence_dominican_republic_sp.pdf).Cambodia,2016.https://environmentalmigration.iom.int/assessing-vulnerabilitiesand-responses-environmental-changes-cambodia.
6Gemenne,François.2011.“WhytheNumbersDon’tAddup:AReviewofEstimatesandPredictionsofPeople
DisplacedbyEnvironmentalChanges.”MigrationandGlobalEnvironmentalChange–ReviewofDriversofMigration21,Supplement1(December):S41–49.doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.09.005
on environmental changes and the extent to which humans implement adaptation
measuresthateffectivelyavoidorminimizedisplacement.7 ,8 •
Insomecases,initiativestomitigateclimatechange,suchasREDD+orbiofuelproduction,mayalsoindirectlyleadtodisplacementandotherformsofhumanmobility.9 c. Whereistheriskofclimatedisplacementmoreprominent?
Whilenoregionoftheglobeisimmunefromclimatechange,itwilldisproportionatelyaffectcertaingeographicregionsandcommunitiesthataremoreexposedandvulnerableto
itseffects.10, 11Whilesevereweathereventsaffectrichandpoorcountriesalike,poorand
vulnerablecommunitiesareworstaffected.Since2008,closeto175 million people who
live in developing countries have been displaced by disasters,accountingfor95per
centoftheglobaltotal.12 RisksaregreatestforleastdevelopedcountrieswithsigniYicant
populations who are both exposed to climate-related hazards and vulnerable to climate
impactsduetopre-existingvulnerabilitysuchaspoverty,poorlyconstructedhousingand
infrastructure,aswellastheirlimitedYinancial,technicalandinstitutionalcapacitytorecover or adapt. Thus, the extent of displacement will also depend on the ability of governments and communities to adapt and implement measures to build resilience and reduce
underlyingvulnerabilitiesanddisplacementrisk.
Certaingeographicregionsoftheworldarealsomorelikelytoexperienceclimatechangerelateddisplacementandmigration.Forexample:
(i)Asiaseesmoredisastersthananyotherregion–in2015,85percentofallnew
displacementbysuddenonsetdisasterswasinsouthandeastAsia.13
7Zickgraf,Caroline,SaraVigil,FlorencedeLongueville,PierreOzer,andFrançoisGemenne.2016.“TheImpact
ofVulnerabilityandResiliencetoEnvironmentalChangesonMobilityPatternsinWestAfrica.”WorldBank.
8IOM,2016.DataonEnvironmentalMigration:Howmuchdoweknow:http://iomgmdac.org/data-envi -
ronmental-migration/
9Vigil,S.2015.‘Displacementasaconsequenceofclimatechangemitigationpolicies’,DisastersandDis -
placementinaChangingClimate,ForcedMigrationReview.UniversityofOxford.No49:43-45.
10IonescoDina,DariaMokhnacheva,FrançoisGemenne.2016.Atlasdesmigrationsenvironnementales.1vol.
(151p.)vols.Paris:SciencesPolesPresses/OrganisationInternationalesdesMigrations(IOM):http://
www.iomfrance.org/atlas-des-migrations-environnementales-0
11IOMandSciencesPoSeries:StateofEnvironmentalMigration(2011,2012,2013,2014,2015)http://
www.environmentalmigration.iom.int/projects/state-environmental-migration
12IDMC2015.
13IDMCGlobalReportonInternalDisplacement2016,May2016.h=p://www.internal-displacement.org/globalre -
port2016/
(ii)Low-lyingcoastalareaswithlargepopulationslivingwithinafewmetersofsea
level,suchasBangladesh,arelikelytoexperiencesigniYicantclimatechange-related
displacement due to increased exposure to storm surge, soil salination, Ylooding,
erosion,andsealevelrise.14 ,15
(iii)Climatechangeimpactsonwateravailabilitywilldisproportionatelyaffectgeographic areas that are prone to drought or dependent on glacial melt for fresh
water.16
(iv)Climatechangewillalsodisproportionatelyaffecthumanmobilityindeveloping
countrieswithpopulationsthatarehighlydependentonnaturalresources/rain-fed
agriculturetosurvivesuchastheSahelregionofWestAfricaandotherpartsofsubSaharanAfrica.17
(v)ThepopulationsoffragileandconYlict-affectedstatesisalsoatparticularriskof
displacementinthecontextofdisastersandclimatechange.18
(vi)Arcticcommunities,especiallyindigenouspeoples,arealsohighlyvulnerableto
displacementduetotherapidincreaseintemperatureandmeltingofseaiceinthe
Arcticregion.Infact,intheUnitedStates,NativeAlaskancommunitiesarealready
undertakingmeasurestorelocateinland.19
d. Isthereaknowledgegap?
•
Whileunderstandingofthecauses,dynamicsandmagnitudeofclimatechange-related displacement has been growing in recent years, these phenomena are still not
fullyunderstoodandconceptualized.Thereforebetterdata,conceptsandevidence
areneededtodevelopadequatepolicies.Thedevelopmentoftoolsandsystemsthat
allowforthesystematicgatheringandanalysisofreliabledataondisplacement,and
14WorldBank,TurnDowntheHeat:ClimateExtremes,RegionalImpacts,andtheCaseforResilience(2013)
h=p://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/
2015/07/17/090224b0828c0f20/1_0/Rendered/PDF/Turn0down0the00lience000full0report.pdf
15Chun,J.2014.Migration,EnvironmentandClimateChange:PolicyBriefSeries.IOM.http://www.environ -
mentalmigration.iom.int/vulnerability-environmental-stress-household-livelihoods-assets-and-mobilitymekong-delta-viet-nam
16ReportoftheOfYiceoftheHighCommissioneronHumanRightsontherelationshipbetweenclimate
changeandhumanrights(A/HRC/10/61),15January2009,p.11http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/
HRAndClimateChange/Pages/Study.aspx
17Id.at10.
18“ANewClimateforPeace:TakingActiononClimateandFragilityRisks,”ANewClimateForPeace,2015,ac-
cessed25May2015,http://www.newclimateforpeace.org/
19IPCCAR5,WGII,Chapter28,at1583.
humanmobilitymoregenerally,inthecontextofdisastersandtheeffectsofclimate
changeisparticularlyneeded.
•
Thisisnotanexhaustivelistbutitwouldbeusefulforexampletodeterminetowhat
extentmenandwomenalreadyrelyonmigrationasastrategytocopewiththeeffectsofnaturalhazardsandtheeffectsofclimatechange,andwhatlessonscanbe
learned for improving the beneYits of migration and addressing related protection
risks.20 Itwouldalsobeusefultounderstandunderwhatcircumstancesvulnerable
households chose to use different forms of mobility to manage climate risks, and
whattheoutcomeswerefortheirwelfareaswellasunderstandingvulnerablehouseholdcharacteristics.Anothergapisthecostofimplementingmeasurestoprevent
andaddressdisplacement.
•
Likewisetheavailabilityoftailoredclimateinformationandservicesforvulnerable
populationgroupsatriskofdisplacement,aswellasabilitytoaccessandusesuch
information/services,couldcontributetotheiradaptationmeasuresandhaveimplicationsontheirdecisionsonmovement.Oftenpopulationgroupsatriskfortheadverseeffectsofextremeweathereventsorclimatechangedonothaveaccesstotailored climate information to make decisions in time that could ultimately prevent
theirdisplacement.WhiletheneedforstrengtheningclimateservicesaspartofDRR
isrecognisedthroughtheGlobalFrameworkforClimateServices(GFCS) 21andotherglobalinitatives(suchastheGlobalFacilityforDisasterRiskReduction(GFDRR)
andtheClimateRiskandEarlyWarningSystems(CREWS)),thelinktodisplacement
isnotspeciYicallyhighlightedandcouldbedevelopedfurther,includinginareassuch
asimpactbasedearlywarnings22anddisasterriskYinancingandinsurance23.
II.
Policy,normativeandinstitutionalchallengesandopportunitiesassociatedwith
minimizing, averting and addressing both internal and cross-border displacement, including in the context of alternative climate change trajectories (e.g.
1.5°C,2°C,etc.)includingchallengesofcommunitiesnotinapositiontomigrate
(socalled“trappedpopulations”).
1.
Policy,normativeandinstitutionalchallenges
Climate-anddisaster-related human mobility is a cross-cutting issue that requires
strengthened action at all levels and sectors, including humanitarian response, human
rightsprotection, migration management, protection of refugeesand other forcibly
displacedpeople,disasterriskreductionandmanagement,climatechangeadaptation,
20NansenInitiative’sAgendafortheProtectionofCross-BorderDisplacedPersonsintheContextofDisasters
andClimateChange(ProtectionAgenda)
21h=p://www.gfcs-climate.org/disaster_risk_reducVon;
22h=p://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en/launch-of-crews-climate-risk-early-warning-systems/
23h=ps://www.gfdrr.org/disaster-risk-financing-and-insurance
land use planning, and development. Because different institutions deal with different
aspectsofhumanmobilityinthecontextofdisastersandclimatechange,inter-agency
coordinationisneededinordertoavoidoverlapandaddressgaps.24,25
a. Arepeopledisplacedinthecontextofclimatechange«climaterefugees»?
•
Thetermclimaterefugeedoesnotexistininternationallawsincetheword‘refugee’,
assetforthinthe1951RefugeeConventionnormallydescribespeopleYleeingwar
orpersecution,andwhohavecrossedaninternationalborder.Inthecaseofcrossborderclimate-relateddisplacement,thereisnointernationalprotectioninstrument
andhence,alegalgaptoassistandprotectpeoplewhocrossbordersinthecontext
ofdisastersandclimatechange.26
•
Evidenceindicatesthatmostdisplacementinthecontextofclimatechangeanddisasters takes place within countries. People who are internally displaced in these
contextsareinneedoftimelyassistanceandprotectionandlackdurablesolutions,
otherwise,theyaremorelikelytobeforcedtocrossaninternationalbordertoseek
redress.27,28
b. Whataretherelevantglobalpolicyframeworksandprocessesofrelevancefor
humanmobilityinthecontextofdisastersandclimatechange?
•
TheSendaiFrameworkforDisasterRiskReduction2015–2030acknowledgesthat
oneofthemostdevastatingeffectsofdisastersinrecentyearsisthelargenumberof
people who are displaced.29 , 30 The Framework underlines, inter alia, the need to
prepare for “ensuring rapid and effective response to disasters and related dis-
24UNHCR,TheEnvironmentandClimateChange:AnOverview,2015,http://www.unhcr.org/540854f49.html
25IOMOutlookonMigration,EnvironmentandClimateChange(2014):http://www.environmentalmigra-
tion.iom.int/iom-outlook-migration-environment-and-climate-change-1
26UNHCRLegalandProtectionPolicy,ProtectingPeopleCrossingBordersintheContextofClimateChange
NormativeGapsandPossibleApproaches,2012,http://www.unhcr.org/542e9abd9.html
27NansenInitiative’sAgendafortheProtectionofCross-BorderDisplacedPersonsintheContextofDisasters
andClimateChange(ProtectionAgenda)
28IOM,Glossary:Migration,EnvironmentandClimateChange(2014)http://www.environmentalmigra-
tion.iom.int/glossary-migration-environment-and-climate-change-evidence-policy-meclep-0
29PopulationMobilityandDisasterRiskReduction:PerspectivesonhumanmobilityandtheHFA2consulta-
tionprocess(IOM2015):http://www.environmentalmigration.iom.int/population-mobility-and-disasterrisk-reduction-perspectives-human-mobility-and-hfa2-consultation
30KeyAdvocacyMessages:MobilityandDisasterRiskReduction/Messagesclésdeplaidoyer:Mobilitéet
réductiondesrisquesdecatastrophe/Mensajesyrecomendacionesclave:Movilidadyreduccióndelriesgo
dedesastreshttp://www.environmentalmigration.iom.int/key-advocacy-messages-mobility-and-disasterrisk-reduction-messages-cl%C3%A9s-de-plaidoyer-mobilit%C3%A9-et
placement, including access to safe shelter, essential food and non-food relief supplies”andencouragesStatestoadopt,atnationalandlocallevels,“policiesandprogrammes addressing disaster induced human mobility to strengthen the resilience
of affected people and that of host communities as per national laws and circumstances.”Italsocallsfor“transboundarycooperation[...]tobuildresilienceandreducedisasterrisk,including[...]displacementrisk.”31 •
The2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopment,alsoadoptedin2015,notesthatthe
“forced displacement of people threaten[s] to reverse much of the development
progressmadeinrecentdecades,”andcontainsacommitment“tocooperateinternationally to ensure [...] the humane treatment”, inter alia, of “displaced persons,”
and to build the resilience of those in vulnerable situations to climate-related extremeeventsandotherdisasters.32
•
TheYirstWorldHumanitarianSummit(WHS)willbeheldinIstanbulon23and24
May2016andwillbringtogethergovernments,humanitarianorganizations,people
affectedbyhumanitariancrisesandotherrelevantstakeholderstodevelopasetof
concreteactionsaimedatenablingcountriesandcommunitiestobetterpreparefor
crisisandemergencies,includingpreparingforincreasedfrequencyandintensityof
naturalhazards.Itwillbeimportanttoensuretheinclusionofhumanmobilitychallengesintosuchproposalsandpromoteactionsthatcanprotectandpreventpeople
from being displaced and ensure movement in dignity and safety when displacementisunavoidable.
•
The UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III)
willtakeplaceinQuito,Ecuador,on17-20October2016.Thegoaloftheconference
is to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable urban development, assess accomplishments to date, address poverty, and identify and address new and
emerging challenges. The Yirst implementing conference of the Post-2015 sustainabledevelopmentandclimatechangeagendas,HabitatIIIoffersauniqueopportunitytodiscusstheimportantchallengeofurbanareasvulnerabilitytoclimatechange
(especiallyinformalsettlements)andasdestinationsforthoseuprootedbyclimate
changeeffects.
•
The Nansen Initiative is a State-led, consultative process launched in 2012 by the
Swiss and Norwegian governments to build consensus on a Protection Agenda addressingtheneedsofpeopledisplacedacrossbordersinthecontextofdisastersand
climatechange. Overthecourseofthreeyears,theNansenInitiativeconductedregional consultations in the PaciYic, Central America, the Horn of Africa, Southeast
AsiaandSouthAsia.Duringtheprocess,variousthematicareasincludinghumanitarianaction,humanrights,migration,disasterriskreduction,climatechangeadap-
31UNHCR,DisplacementandDisasterRiskReductionhttp://www.unhcr.org/5665945e9.html
32UNResolutionA/Res/70/1,“TransformingOurWorld:the2013AgendaforSustainableDevelopment,”15
September2015,¶¶14,29http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E
tation,anddevelopmentcooperationwereaddressedinanefforttoimprovecooperation and promote comprehensive and coherent solutions.33 In October 2015,
over100governmentsendorsedthe“AgendafortheProtectionofCross-BorderDisplaced Persons in the Context of Disasters and Climate Change,” which identiYies a
toolboxofeffectivepracticesandpolicyoptionstoprevent,preparefor,andrespond
toclimate-relateddisplacementandmigration.In2016andbeyond,theProtection
Agendawillrequireimplementation(SeeSection3bbelow).
‑
c. WhatisaddedvalueofaddressingthisissuewithintheUNFCCC?
•
2.
EffortstoincludehumanmobilityintheUNFCCCframeworkarecomplementarytoefforts to better factor climatic, natural hazard and environmental factors into human
mobilityinitiativesandprogrammes.Attheinternationallevel,theUNFCCCanditsrelevantbodiesincludingtheAdaptationCommitteeandtheWIMExComprovideavaluablevenueforaddressingtheimpactsofclimatechangeonhumanmobility.National
AdaptationPlansaswellasINDCsandotherUNFCCCinstrumentsarerelevantvehicles
atthenationallevelforpreventing,minimizingandaddressingdisplacement.34 Opportunities associated with minimizing and averting both internal and
cross-borderdisplacementintheContextofClimateChange
Itisimportanttonotethatnumerousopportunitiesexist–includingthroughtheUNFCCC
andimplementationoftheSendaiFrameworkandtheSustainableDevelopmentGoals–to
avoidandminimizedisplacementfromdisastersandotherclimatechange-relatedeffects.
National governments are encouraged to take measures to mitigate and prevent displacement from extreme weather and other climate change-related adverse effects
throughclimatechangeadaptation(e.g.,asrelatetolanduseplanningandagriculturalpractices),disasterriskreductionandmanagement,andthelike.
Increasing the resilience of affected populations to prevent and minia.
mizedisplacement
Increasing the resilience of affected populations through planning for, and implementing,climatechangeadaptationstrategiesanddisasterriskreductionmanagementisessentialtoenablethemtoremainwheretheyliveandavertdisplacement.35
Strengthening the resilience of communities that are already displaced, as well as
33Seewww.nanseninitiative.org
34UNHCRLegalandProtectionPolicy,ClimateChangeInducedDisplacement:AdaptationPolicyintheCon-
textoftheUNFCCCClimateNegotiations,2011http://www.unhcr.org/542e9b3e9.html;
UNU-EHSPublicationseries,PolicyBrief,IntegratingHumanMobilityIssueswithinNationalAdaptation
Plans,2014,http://www.unhcr.org/542e97229.html
35UNHCR,DisplacementandDisasterRiskReductionhttp://www.unhcr.org/5665945e9.html
the communities that host them, should also be a priority to avoid secondary and
protracteddisplacementsituations.36
Migrationasameasuretopreventandminimizedisplacement
b.
Well-managedmigration,whethercircular,temporaryorundertakenwiththeintentiontosettleelsewhere,hasthepotentialtoincreasetheresilienceofclimate
vulnerablepopulationsbycreatingnewlivelihoodopportunitiesandstrengthening
resilience andtheadaptativecapacitytofuturerisks.37Migrationcanalsosupport
economic development in receiving areas, while supporting families back home
through remittances. When not properly managed, however, migration can lead to
signiYicant risks including trafYicking and exploitation. It is therefore essential to
ensurethatmigrationoccursinamannerthatfullyrespectsandprotects
thedignityandhumanrightsofthosewhomoveandthosewhostaybehind.
Plannedrelocationasameasuretopreventandminimizedisplacement
b.
andmoveat-riskpopulationsoutofharm’sway
Insomecases,theimpactsofclimatechangemaymakelifeunsustainableorrender
certainareasuninhabitableowingtohighexposuretoextremeorfrequenthazards
orbyseverelylimiting livelihoods options. Inallcases,Statesmustprioritizeappropriatemitigation,adaptationandotherpreventativemeasurestoallowpopulations at risk of displacement to remain in their homes.38 However, in some cases,
Stateswillneedtotakemeasurestoprotectpeoplewhoareatriskofdisplacement
duetoclimatechange-relatedhazardsandpermanentlyrelocatethemtosaferareas.
Plannedrelocation,ifimplementedinconsultationwith,andwithrespectforthe
rights of, the people and communities involved can protect vulnerable populations
fromclimaterisksandimpactsthroughsettlingtheminsafer,moresecurelocations.However,wherenotproperlyplannedandimplemented,relocationcanresultinprotractedorsecondarydisplacementandrelatedhumanrightsviolations.39
Where planned relocation related to climate change cannot be avoided, its scale
36UNHCR,TheEnvironmentandClimateChange:AnOverview,2015,http://www.unhcr.org/540854f49.html
37IOMOutlookonMigration,EnvironmentandClimateChange(2014):http://www.environmentalmigra-
tion.iom.int/iom-outlook-migration-environment-and-climate-change-1
38UNHCRBackgrounddocument,PlannedRelocation,DisastersandClimateChange:ConsolidatingGood
PracticesandPreparingfortheFuture,2014http://www.unhcr.org/53c4d6f99.html;UNHCRFinalreportand
preliminaryguidanceonPlannedRelocation,DisastersandClimateChange:ConsolidatingGoodPracticesand
PreparingfortheFuture,2014http://www.unhcr.org/54082cc69.html;UNHCR,BrookingsandGeorgetown
GuidanceonProtectingPeopleFromDisastersandEnvironmentalchangethroughplannedrelocation,2015,
http://www.unhcr.org/562f798d9.html;IOM2016PolicyBriefSeriesIssue6:Relocationasanadaptation
strategytoenvironmentalstresshttp://www.environmentalmigration.iom.int/policy-brief-series-issue-6-relocation-adaptation-strategy-environmental-stress
39See,e.g.,Thomas,A.(2015).PhilippinesPost-TyphoonResettlementPlanCarriesRisks.RefugeesIn-
ternational.http://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/philippines-post-typhoon-resettlement-plan-carriesrisks
shouldbeminimizedandtheprocessshouldalwaysinvolveaffectedcommunities,fullyprotecttheirrights,andsupportthemtofullyrestoretheirstandardofliving.40 Inter-stakeholdercoordination
c.
• The Advisory Group on Climate Change and Human Mobility shares the most recent, available knowledge with UNFCCC Parties in an effort to frame the issue, provide
technical support, and contribute to the work of the WIM ExCom task force on climate
displacement.
• TheTheHigh-LevelCommitteeonProgrammes(HLCP)workinggrouponclimate
change(WGCC).TheOneUNstrategyoftheWGCChasprovedefYiciencyinbringingtogethervariousstakeholderstocollaborateonclimatechangeandhumanmobilityunderthe
leadershipofUNHCRandIOM.DuringtheUNFCCC2014and2015COPsinLimaandParis(COPs20 and21),UNHCRandIOMranajointexhibitboothtodisseminaterelevant
publications and organized high level side events together with other UN and non UN
partnerstoraiseawarenessandprovideguidanceonwaystoavert,minimizeandaddress
climate-relateddisplacement.
• The Nansen Initiative is a bottom-up, state-led consultative process with multistakeholderinvolvement.Itsconsultativecommitteeismadeupofrepresentativesfrom
international organizations dealing with displacement and migration issues, climate
change and development, researchers, think tanks and non-governmental organizations
areinformingandsupportingtheprocessthroughtheexperienceofitsmembers.
3.
OpportunitiesassociatedwithAddressingDisplacementintheContextofClimateChange
Those displaced by disasters and climate change should be entitled to protection and assistance and should be supported to return and rebuild/recover their homes and livelihoodsassoonaspossible.
a. Strengthening Assistance, Protection and Durable solutions for IDPS in the
contextofdisastersandclimatechange
40UNHCRBackgrounddocument,PlannedRelocation,DisastersandClimateChange:ConsolidatingGood
PracticesandPreparingfortheFuture,2014http://www.unhcr.org/53c4d6f99.html;UNHCRFinalreportand
preliminaryguidanceonPlannedRelocation,DisastersandClimateChange:ConsolidatingGoodPracticesand
PreparingfortheFuture,2014http://www.unhcr.org/54082cc69.html;UNHCR,BrookingsandGeorgetown
GuidanceonProtectingPeopleFromDisastersandEnvironmentalchangethroughplannedrelocation,2015,
http://www.unhcr.org/562f798d9.html;IOM2016PolicyBriefSeriesIssue6:Relocationasanadaptation
strategytoenvironmentalstresshttp://www.environmentalmigration.iom.int/policy-brief-series-issue-6-relocation-adaptation-strategy-environmental-stress
•
Itiswidelyagreedthatthevastmajorityofpeopledisplacedbydisastersand
the impacts of climate change will be internally displaced within their own countries. National governments bear the primary responsibility to protect people displacedwithintheirterritories.
•
The 1998 UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, which are drawn
fromhumanitarian,humanrights,andanalogousrefugeelaw,spellouttheprotection and assistance obligations of national governments with respect to people
forcedtoYlee“naturalorhuman-madedisasters,andwhohavenotcrossedaninternationallyrecognizedstateborder.”41
•
Inaddition,tworegionalinstrumentshavebeenadoptedbyAfricannations
thatreinforcetheprotectionobligationsoutlinedintheGuidingPrinciples:the2009
KampalaConventionfortheProtectionandAssistanceofInternallyDisplacedPersons
inAfrica(KampalaConvention)andthe2006GreatLakesProtocolontheProtection
and Assistance to Internally Displaced Persons. The IASC Operational Guidelines on
Human Rights and Natural Disasters also provide guidance for responding to displacementinnaturaldisastersituations.
•
WhilenumerousStateshaveadoptedlawsandpoliciesrelatedtoIDPs,42enforcement is often weak. States are encouraged to develop and implement improvedlawsandpoliciesrelatedtotheassistanceandprotectionofIDPs.
•
Where a disaster and related displacement overwhelm a national government’sabilitytorespond,itmaycallontheinternationalcommunityforassistance.
The primary mechanism for the coordination of humanitarian assistance for internallydisplacedpersonsistheInter-AgencyStandingCommittee(IASC)’sclusterapproach.
•
Under the “cluster
approach”, IOM and UNHCR co-lead the camp coordination and camp management (CCCM) cluster;
UNHCR co-leads with the
InternationalFederationof
the Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies (IFRC)
the shelter cluster, and
UNHCR leads the Global
1998UNGuidelinesonInternalDisplacement,Introduction,para.2.
41
42SeeIDMC’sIDPLawsandPolicyMappingTool,http://www.internal-displacement.org/law-and-policy
ProtectionCluster.43
•
It is widely assumed that most people displaced by sudden-onset weather-related
disasters such as Yloods and storms return home relatively quickly. However, evidence shows that failure to receive timely shelter and livelihood assistance in the
aftermathofdisasterscanleadtoprotractedorsecondarydisplacement,especially
ofpoorandmarginalizedgroups.44Otherrecentcasestudiesshowthatintheaftermathofdisasters,numerousobstaclestoreturnexistsuchaslackofaccesstoland
and discrimination against vulnerable and marginalized groups.45 Both national
governments and international agencies need to focus on measures to better
protectandassistIDPsintheaftermathofdisasters,tobettersupportthemost
vulnerable groups to recover, and to ensure they achieve a durable solution to
displacement.Inaddition,furtherresearchisneededbothtobettermonitorand
betterunderstandthecausesofprotractedorsecondarydisplacementintheaftermathofdisasters.
Protectionandassistanceforpeoplecrossingbordersinthecontextof
b.
disastersandclimatechange
•
Ratherthancallingforanewbindinginternationalconventiononcross-border disaster-displacement,Statesareencouragedtoadoptanapproachthatfocuses on the integration of effective practices by States and (sub-) regional organizations into their own normative frameworks and practices in accordance
withtheirspeciOicsituationsandchallenges.
•
Members of the Advisory group contributed to the Nansen Initiative
(2012-2015),astate-led,bottom-upconsultativeprocessintendedtobuildconsensusonkeyprinciplesandelementstoaddresstheprotectionandassistanceneedsof
personsdisplacedacrossbordersinthecontextofdisasters,includingtheadverse
effectsofclimatechange.AkeyoutcomeofthisprocessistheAgendafortheProtectionofCross-BorderDisplacedPersonsintheContextofDisastersandClimateChange
(Protection Agenda)46 , which presents a comprehensive approach on how to both
43https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/fr/coordination/clusters/what-cluster-approach;http://www. -
globalprotectioncluster.org/_assets/Yiles/tools_and_guidance/IASC_Guidelines_Natural_Disasters_EN.pdf;
IOM,2015.TheMENDGuide-ComprehensiveGuideforPlanningMassEvacuationsinNaturalDisasters(Pilot
Document):http://www.environmentalmigration.iom.int/mend-guide-comprehensive-guide-planning-massevacuations-natural-disasters-pilot-document
44A.Thomas,“RisingWaters,DisplacedLives,”ForcedMigrationReview45,atp.34,availableathttp://
www.fmreview.org/sites/fmr/Yiles/FMRdownloads/en/crisis.pdf
45IDMCGlobalEstimates2015PeopleDisplacedbyDisasters,Chapter5,p.47.
46TheProtectionAgendawasendorsedby109Governmentaldelegationsatanintergovernmentalconsulta-
tioninGeneva,SwitzerlandinOctober2015.
preventandaddressdisasterdisplacement(bothinternalandcross-border).Ithighlightstheneedforpolicyintegrationandenhancedcoordinationacrosshumanitarian,disasterriskreduction,climatechangeadaptationanddevelopmentactionareas.
TheProtectionAgendaconsolidatesabroadsetofeffectivepracticesandpolicy
options that can be used by States and others to reduce and manage disaster
displacement, and to better protect and assist disaster displaced persons. The
new Platform on Disaster Displacement will replace the Nansen Initiative and will
belaunchedattheWHSinMay2016.
For more information, please contact Marine Franck : [email protected]