Climate change is becoming a major driver of disasters, with increasingly frequent and intense floods and storms affecting more people globally. Increased forced displacement is an extremely likely consequence of such events. Heightened drought risk, desertification, sea-level rise, and changes in the availability of water and fertile land, coupled with reduced access to basic resources, will also fuel longer term migration and forced displacement. Climate change therefore has the potential to displace millions of people in coming decades, with potentially extremely significant humanitarian consequences.

Research on the scale and nature of human mobility as a result of climate change events and processes, as well as the humanitarian impacts, is still in its infancy. However, an emerging body of inter-disciplinary research is beginning to look at these issues, with the aim of helping policy makers to make informed decisions on how to prevent, prepare for, or respond to the humanitarian implications of climate change. This event will profile some recent research on climate change and human mobility, look at the future direction of research and how it can best inform humanitarian decision making, and discuss some of the policy questions that need to be addressed to effectively manage the impacts of climate change impacts on displacement and migration.

Welcome and introduction – Niels Scott, OCHA Disaster displacement in the context of climate change: Findings of a recent study by OCHA/IDMC – Kate Halff, IDMC Forced migration hot spots: from humanitarian response to area-wide adaptation – Jean Francois Durieux, UNHCR Environmental changes, conflicts and migration:  Addressing development and humanitarian needs – Tom Delrue, UNEP Migration and the Environment: Findings of a New International Study and Priorities for Future Research – Frank Laczko, IOM – Questions and discussion

Important information: Interested researchers and practioners from UN agencies, NGOs and research institutes are invited to attend this event. If you wish to attend, please inform Chantal Lejarle of OCHA by email (lejarle@un.org). If you do not have a badge that would allow access to the Palais, please also request one from Chantal, making sure to include your name and organisation. Room XI is on the 3rd floor of A Building.