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Opening Session: Luis Planas

EESC Secretary General

#EESClimate #Migrants #EUtrainees

Session 1: The upcoming challenge of climate migration

Moderator: Stella Brozek-Everaert(Administrator, NAT Section, EESC)


“The issue of climate migration; Facts and Figures”

Jo de Backer (EU Policy and Liaison Officer, IOM)


International Organization for Migration

Migration as an adaptation strategy to climate change

25 January 2016

Jo De BackerIOM Regional Office Brussels

[email protected]

The Migration-Environment Nexus

“The gravest effects of climate change may be those on human migration.”

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 1990

Challenge of data

[IDMC Global Estimates 2015]over 19,3 million

people in 100 countries were newly displaced by disasters in

2014

[IDMC, 2015]An average of 26,4 million people each

year between 2008-2013

displaced by disasters

[IDMC 2015]Developing

countries are consistently the worst affected & accounting for 91% in 2014 of

displacement by disasters

Climate migrants, environmentalmigrants?

AWorkingDefinition,IOM2007

“Environmentalmigrantsarepersonsorgroupsofpersonswho,

forcompellingreasonsofsuddenorprogressivechangeinthe

environmentthatadverselyaffectstheirlivesorlivingconditions,

areobligedtoleavetheirhabitualhomes,orchoosetodoso,either

temporarilyorpermanently,andwhomoveeitherwithintheir

countryorabroad.”

IOM’s main objectives

i. To prevent forced migration resulting from environmental factors through preparedness and disaster risk reduction

ii. To provide assistance and protection to affected populations and seek durable solutions where forced migration does occur

iii. To facilitate migration as an adaptation strategy to climate change.

IOM’s key messages

1. Multicausal and multidimensionalproblem

2. Givinga human face to the climatechange debate

3. Human mobilityas a barometer of resilienceand vulnerability

4. Migration as an adaptation option

Migration, Environment and Climate Change

IOM’s activities & work

q Research

q Advocacy

q Policy dialogue and guidance on policies and practices

q Capacity Building

q Partnerships and cooperation

q Communication and information sharing

q Operational activities

12

Framing a complex issue

Human Mobility

Migration Displacement

Planned Relocation

Internal – Cross border

Voluntary - Forced

Temporary - Permanent

13

Migration as Adaptation

èMigration is one possible adaptation strategy

Migration can:

- Reduce population pressure on fragile ecosystems

- Save lives in case of disasters

- Strengthen livelihoodsthrough income diversification via remittances and the transfer of knowledge and skills

©John Vink/ Magnum Photos for IOM - MKH0197

Cancún Adaptation Framework (CAF) COP 16, 2010

Measures to enhance understanding, coordination and cooperation with regard to climate chance induced displacement, migration and planned relocation, where appropriate, at the national, regional and internationallevels.

14 f (Section II, Cancún Agreement)

Where is migration in the UNFCCC?

Doha Decision on Loss and Damage, COP 18, 2012

Acknowledges the further work to advance the understanding of and expertise on loss and damage, which includes, inter alia, the following: Enhancing the understanding of … How impacts of climate change are affecting patterns of migration, displacement and human mobility.

2012, Paragraph 7 (a) (vi)

Where is migration in the UNFCCC?

Human Mobility and UNFCCC

16

COP 21 Paris Agreement: A Stepping Stone for Climate Migrants

17

In the UNFCCC process: the NAP entry point

• Because the national adaptation planning process provides a comprehensive assessments of development needs in relation to climate

• Integrating migration into National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)

NAPS can address migration in two ways:

1. Through adaptation plans to reduce the pressure of migration and avoid displacement and the need for planned relocation

2. Through adaptation plans that envision migration as an adaptation strategy

Human Mobility and UNFCCC

Concrete action: Providing policy relevant evidence and researchIOM - Migration, Environment and Climate Change:

Evidence for Policy (MECLEP) Project

Duration: 3 years (January 2014 – December 2016)

Budget: 2.4 million Euros

Adaptation and NAP

MECLEP: Three Components to find

policy answers

ResearchCapacityBuilding Dialogue

How can migration, displacement and relocation enhance or impede efforts to adapt to climate change?

ü Migration as determinant of vulnerability: does it increase adaptive capacity or hinder it?

ü What policies can be facilitated?

Environmental Migration Portalhttp://environmentalmigration.iom.int/

Follow us @IOM_MECC For more information on the MECLEP project, please visit: www.iom.int/meclep

Jo de Backer Statement


“Migration should be seen as a successful adaptation strategyrather than a failure to adapt to a changing environment”

“Climate diplomacy: The COP21 outcome & the

link of climate & security”

Pascal Delisle(Adviser for Climate Change, EEAS)


Pascal Delisle Statement


“Without effective global climate change mitigation andadaptation, a sustainable solution to climate migrationbecomes unlikely for the EU”

“The international gap in protection for climate migrants”

Annabelle Roig Granjon(Senior EU Advisor, UNHCR)


Annabelle Roig Granjon Statement


“The Geneva Convention defines a refugee as someone with 'a well-founded fear of persecution' on the basis of one of five grounds: race,religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, andpolitical opinion.

While climate change does, and will increasingly, contribute to forcedmigration across borders, it does not constitute a ground for grantingrefugee status under international law. Rather than amending theConvention or designing a new legal instrument, climate migrants willneed to be protected within existing frameworks and good practices”

“Climate Migration; a youth perspective”

Charlotte Blondel (Student, Climate Refugees, CLIMates)


A YOUTH PERSPECTIVE ON CLIMATE MIGRATION

Charlotte BLONDEL, Law Student, Sciences Po Paris

CliMates

INTRODUCTIONWHAT’S CLIMATES ?

• An international NGO born in France in 2011.• An international actor on the international stage- Representatives at international events: COP21, Bonn....- Member of YOUNGO

• A voice for the Youth in international negotiations.

AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF YOUNG ADVOCATES

@CliMates

1.WHAT ROLE FOR THE YOUTH IN THE

CLIMATE MIGRATION DEBATE?

A. UNDERSTANDING OUR RESPONSIBILITY

• Numbers and facts- A global need for adaptation : the challenge of the nextgeneration.- Between 250 millions and 1 billion environmental migrants in

2050.

• Interests and legitimacy

B. YOUTH ADVOCACY FOR CLIMATE MIGRANTS: INITIATIVES AT A GLOBAL LEVEL.

• From a political perspective


CLIMATE MIGRATION DEBATE?


CLIMATE MIGRATION DEBATE?• B. YOUTH ADVOCACY FOR CLIMATE MIGRANTS:

INITIATIVES AT A GLOBAL LEVEL.

• From a local perspective:

- CliMates research projects: focus on local experiences. @ ENN

- the importance of partnerships between Youth organizations.

2. YOUTH PERSPECTIVE ON THE CLIMATE MIGRATION ISSUE :

A NEED FOR EDUCATION & SOLIDARITY

A. EDUCATION AT EVERY LEVEL: FOR A GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING

• Why is education on the matter so important ? - For the most vulnerable people : understanding as a prerequisite

for advocacy.- Around the world: understanding as a prerequisite for action.

• Education, Youth and creativity : advocating tools.- Media campaigns, social media and creative ideas.

2. YOUTH PERPECTIVE ON THE CLIMATE MIGRATION ISSUE :

A NEED FOR EDUCATION & SOLIDARITY

B. YOUNG & DISPLACED : A PARTICULAR APPROACH

• A youth-to-youth approach: similarities and solidarity

• Specific experiences, specific needs, specific solutions

CONCLUSIONDRAWING A PARALLEL: PATHS TO THE INTERNATIONAL STAGEYouth on the international stage/Environmental migrants, actors of the negotiations ?

• WHY ? • WHAT ? • HOW ?

“The Youth are the most able to understand and address theissue of environmental migration: they have to get informedand involved as early as today if we want to change thingsin the coming years”


Charlotte Blondel Statement

A. Jo de Backer: “Migration should be seen as a successful adaptation strategy rather than a failure toadapt to a changing environment”

B. Pascal Delisle: “Without effective global climate change mitigation and adaptation, a sustainablesolution to climate migration becomes unlikely for the EU”

C. Annabelle Roig Granjon: “(….). While climate change does, and will increasingly, contribute to forcedmigration across borders, it does not constitute a ground for granting refugee status under internationallaw. Rather than amending the Geneva Convention or designing a new legal instrument, climatemigrants will need to be protected within existing frameworks and good practices”

D. Charlotte Blondel: “The Youth are the most able to understand and address the issue of environmentalmigration: they have to get informed and involved as early as today if we want to change things in thecoming years”


Opinion Poll on the statements

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COFFEE BREAK 15:30 - 15:45

Session 2: The challenge for the EU to deal with climate migrants

Moderator: Jean-François Bence(Director for Legislative Works C, EESC)


VIDEO


“The European Commission's approach to climate migration”

Etienne Coyette(Policy Officer, DG DEVCO, European Commission)


Etienne Coyette Statement


“Development cooperation should increasingly focus onbuilding climate change resilience”

“The role of civil society in climate migration”

Brenda King (President, Sustainable Development Observatory, EESC)


Brenda King Statement


“Expecting climate migration to be unavoidable, governmentsand civil society need to take action jointly to prepare theintegration of displaced people into society for the benefit ofall”

“The challenge of climate migration to the EU”

Jean Lambert (MEP, The Greens, European Parliament)


“The reasons for which people choose to move are complex to unpick but some of thecurrent refugee flows we are witnessing may be linked to environmental factors. TheEU must act now with a multifaceted approach both in countries of origin and affectedregions by assisting with mitigation and adaptation, and in the EU itself, which will notavoid the impacts of climate change. The EU also needs to face up to the challenge ofincreased migration flows by offering more possibilities for legal migration and bydeveloping a real circular migration framework.”


Jean Lambert Statement


A. Etienne Coyette: “Development cooperation should increasingly focus on building climate changeresilience”

B. Brenda King: “Expecting climate migration to be unavoidable, governments and civil society needto take action jointly to prepare the integration of displaced people into society for the benefit of all”

C. Jean Lambert: “The reasons for which people choose to move are complex to unpick but some ofthe current refugee flows we are witnessing may be linked to environmental factors. The EU mustact now with a multifaceted approach both in countries of origin and affected regions by assistingwith mitigation and adaptation, and in the EU itself, which will not avoid the impacts of climatechange. The EU also needs to face up to the challenge of increased migration flows by offeringmore possibilities for legal migration and by developing a real circular migration framework.”

Opinion Poll on the statements


Concluding RemarksKoen Berentsen

Organizer of the conference, EESC

VIDEO


Documents

Follow us Live on Twitter @EESC SDO · • Integrating migration into National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) NAPS can address migration in two ways: 1. Through adaptation plans to reduce