Managing climate change-related migration when it emerges

If not altered, the combination of rising GHG emissions, population growth in highly exposed regions, and failure to build adaptive capacity among the most vulnerable will almost certainly lead to large-scale population displacements and migrations. Such migrations will likely begin within two decades, and will likely unfold in patterns similar to past climate-related migrations, with most migrants moving within their own countries or geographical regions. In some cases, these events may lead to the destabilization of governments, and may very well undermine regional economic productivity, thereby creating self-reinforcing stimuli for additional migration. A smaller but still significant number will use existing transnational communities and migration networks to make their way to developed nations as migrants, legal or otherwise, and will need to be accommodated and incorporated (McLeman and Hunter, 2010).

Sustainable Development Goals:

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions