During the COP29 conference, a report by the "United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees" highlighted that there are about 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide living in environments with extremely high temperatures.
Expectedly, as more countries face the risks of climate change, the pressure on less affected countries to accommodate larger numbers of displaced people will increase. This has increased the need to amplify the voices of the displaced in climate action.
On November 14, 2024, during the COP29 events, Theo James, the Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, announced the "Refugees for Climate Action" network to support displaced communities in combating climate change.
The term climate refugee refers to individuals who have been forced to leave their homes against their will due to climate changes, following a disaster or the recurrence of extreme weather phenomena that threaten their lives and livelihoods.
Numerous risks
Climate refugees face numerous risks; they may find no shelter except in remote areas of informal camps, which means they cannot access basic living services and lack strong infrastructure to help them cope with floods, droughts, storms, and heatwaves. They also suffer from a lack of resources or the ability to build integrated communities capable of achieving self-sufficiency. And the risks may escalate into conflicts over resources, negatively affecting peace among individuals.
A call from Baku
On Friday, November 15, Azerbaijan's presidency launched the "Baku Call for Climate Action for Peace, Relief, and Recovery," aimed at developing strategies to prevent global conflicts and enhance support for countries particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, many of whose residents are forced to flee due to its effects. About 132 countries have signed the Baku Call.
The Baku Call for Climate Action for Peace, Relief, and Recovery offers numerous recommendations to address critical issues concerning the displaced, including enhancing sustainable water management practices, providing agricultural solutions to withstand the impacts of climate change, rehabilitating agricultural lands, and restoring ecosystems.
These practices aim to assist individuals displaced by climate change in adapting to these changes. On the other hand, the Baku Call prioritizes least developed and poor countries and pays special attention to marginalized and vulnerable populations such as women, children, and the elderly.
An international partnership
In this regard, Amy Pope, the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), commented: "In an era where climate-induced displacement has surpassed the number of conflict-induced refugees, the establishment of a broad international partnership around the Baku Call, alongside the historic development of a specialized center for climate and peace in the history of the Conference of the Parties, offers hope for urgent action to address the interconnected challenges of climate change and peace in the future."
In light of the daily deterioration of global warming, we urgently need to support communities severely impacted by climate change as part of our efforts to achieve climate justice and guarantee equality for all.
