Migration, Environment, Climate Change

During the drought of 2013 in the Marshall Islands, IOM worked with USAID to get supplies through. © IOM/Joe Lowry 2013

Key Migration Opportunities and Challenges for SIDS

The 3rd UN International Conference on Small Island Developing States which commences today in Apia, Samoa, promises to be a rich lagoon of conversations on forced displacement, on the human impacts of climate change and natural disasters, on the importance of migrant remittances to economic growth, and finally – on what this all means: the implications of Labour Mobility. IOM’s experience in the 13 small island developing countries where it operates validates the correlation between migration, development, and the environment.

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IOM Calls Attention to Migration Partnerships for Sustainable Development in SIDS
IOM Side Event – SIDS Conference, 3 Sept

"Migration Partnerships for Sustainable Development in SIDS," Apia, Samoa
(Venue: Conference Room 2)
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*See Wednesday, 3 Sep tab

and

Partnership on Migration, Environment and Climate Change
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Young girl stands near the devastation of the central Philippine city of Tacloban. © IOM 2013 (Photo by Conrad Navidad)

 THE CLIMATE SUMMIT 2014: An Opportunity The Global Community Cannot Miss

The Climate Summit of 23 September 2014 aims to mobilize support from government, business, finance and civil society leaders in view of the negotiations for the new climate agreement that will take place in the context of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. World Meteorological Organization Secretary General, Michel Jarraud proposes that Climate Science can give us the cold facts, but Climate Action is something that nations and individuals need to take.

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© IOM 2012

Crossing Borders: Relocation and Adaptation

An Interview with Professor Jane McAdam

1. In the context of SIDS, could environmental challenges and climate change cause permanent resettlement and/or relocation of its inhabitants?

While Pacific island communities stress their desire to remain in their homes for as long as possible, there is also recognition that environmental challenges and the impacts of climate change may mean that islands become uninhabitable over time.  While relocation is their least preferred option, it is nevertheless one possible element in a ‘toolkit’ of responses.  Relocation and resettlement (terms that are often used interchangeably) in essence describe the physical movement of a community from one place to another, with an attempt to re-establish the community in the new location.

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"Best Photo" awardee at the regional photo competition themed "Adaptation to Climate Change" (in collaboration with the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and UNDP).

The Other Migrants Project: Providing Adaptive Livelihood Lifelines

An Interview with the IOM Mauritius Chief of Mission Lalini Veerassamy

Beyond recognising that small island States face starker challenges and risks that border on extinction, IOM Mauritius conducted studies to identify appropriate alternative livelihood that could be offered to displaced communitiess. The “Other Migrants” Project was implemented with the financial support of the IOM Development Fund and under the guidance of a Project Implementation Committee led by the Mauritian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.

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Loss and Damage in the Context of Small Islands

SIDS are currently threatened by submergence, coastal flooding and coastal erosion; and these threats intensify year after year due to the increasingly significant impacts of climate change.  Over the past several decades, the SIDS have come to understand that the traditional policy tools - climate change mitigation and adaptation - will no longer be sufficient. Through united and multilateral efforts, strides have been taken and made on issues of loss, damage, and "compensation" – if at all possible.

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All of the 22 Pacific Island countries are small island states. While Papua New Guinea’s population is 7,321,000, the others vary between 1,000 (Niue) and 881,000 (Fiji).

 Mobility, Climate Change and Development in Pacific Small Island and Developing States

 

The Pacific has the highest per capita level of international mobility among its resident populations and of all world regions. It is forecasted to experience the most rapid population growth in the high mobility groups aged 15-34 years over the next two decades. Unfortunately, local economies have limited capacity to absorb such a growth. It is central to the global discussion on climate change, and several countries are tagged as being the most vulnerable places in the world.

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© Copyright Dina Ionesco 2014

IOM Environmental Migration Newsletter Editorial Team

Ms. Dina IONESCO - Policy Officer Focal Point for Migration Environment and Climate Change • Ms. Daria MOKHNACHEVA – Policy Officer • Ms. Mariam TRAORE CHAZALNOEL - Migration, Environment and Climate Change Associate Expert • Ms. Sieun LEE - Research Officer

Design and editing by IOM Online Communications Unit (OCU)

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In this Issue
  • Human Mobility: a Challenge and an Opportunity for Small Islands – IOM Director General, William L. Swing
  • The Climate Summit 2014: An Opportunity the Global Community Cannot Miss – Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
  • Crossing Borders: Relocation and Adaptation Options for SIDS - A Legal Expert View by Professor Jane McAdam
  • The "Other Migrants" Project - Providing Adaptive Livelihood Lifelines - IOM Mauritius Chief of Mission Lalini Veerassamy
  • Migration, Loss and Damage in the Context of Small Islands - Yana Nazarova
  • Mobility, Climate Change and Development in Pacific Small Island and Developing States - Professors Graeme Hugo and Richard Bedford
  • Bottom-line: Cartoon
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September 1

September 2

September 3

September 1- 4

September 3

September 23

 October 2-3

October 7-8

November 5-7

November 7-8

November 17-18

November 25-28

December 1-12

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Case of Carteret Islands. Produced by Oxfam Australia. Watch here
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