Help Needed Now for Climate Refugees

Governments worldwide are warned of the need to draw up plans urgently to avoid conflict and insecurity by helping populations who are being forced to move because of climate change

Hundreds of thousands of people are already migrating because of climate change, and countries urgently need adaption plans to resettle populations and avoid conflict.

Sea level rise, violent storms and more gradual disasters such as droughts will cause more unplanned mass population movements - either temporary or permanent - and governments need to manage this by planning in advance to protect vulnerable people, says a new report.

The report, by the United Nations University’s Institute for Environment and Human Security, warns that unplanned movements will lead to conflict and insecurity.

Governments need to act regionally to anticipate and facilitate the movement of people.

Ideally, for the displaced families, this would mean providing access to land and housing. They would need financial services, health, education, water and sanitation.  They would also need jobs and the ability to cover the costs of living and food security.

Help Needed Now for Climate Refugees