Addressing Climate-Induced Migration: Creating Safe and Legal Routes While Supporting Lower-Income Countries to Adapt to Climate Emergencies

Details of the author

The author is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Greenwich, where she teaches Immigration and Asylum Law. Her research includes work on the anticipated increase in climate refugees. She has previously submitted evidence on several occasions to select committees and remains available to present evidence to the committee, should it be required.

Introduction

Core Inquiry
How can the UK government address climate-induced migration by creating safe and legal routes while supporting lower-income countries to adapt to and mitigate climate emergencies?

Questions 1, 2 and 4:—Why Should this Area be Examined and its Timeliness

Climate change is an increasingly critical driver of migration. According to the World Bank, by 2050, up to 216 million people could become climate migrants, forced to move due to rising sea levels, extreme weather, and environmental degradation.[1] Most of these individuals originate from lower-income countries, which bear the brunt of climate impacts despite contributing least to global emissions. Although the international community has made initial investments to assist national governments in their adaptation and resilience efforts, the poorest regions hosting displaced and stateless populations are often overlooked in national development and adaptation plans.[2] This oversight deepens existing inequalities, heightens protection concerns for vulnerable groups, and leaves these communities significantly disadvantaged.

Without comprehensive policies to manage climate-induced migration, this issue will exacerbate global inequalities, destabilise vulnerable regions, and strain existing migration systems. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, an increasing number of individuals have been displaced within their own countries since 2017 due to natural disasters, rather than by conflict - 61 per cent compared to 39 per cent.[3]

Furthermore, the United Nations’ expert scientific climate change body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, has stated that sea levels will continue to rise well into the future.[4] It also noted that financial assistance should be made available if climate goals are to be achieved, and this applies particularly to vulnerable regions.[5] It pointed out that the largest climate financial gaps and opportunities reside within developing nations.[6]

The issue of ‘climate refugees’ requires serious attention because, as of late 2024, there is a gap in the international legal framework that addresses the movement of people who cross borders as a result of climate change.[7] The International Development Committee is uniquely placed to address this challenge due to its remit on poverty reduction, humanitarian assistance, and support for lower-income countries. Examining this area will help develop comprehensive UK policies that reduce global inequalities exacerbated by climate displacement

Question 3: Why Would this Area Benefit from Parliamentary Scrutiny

This topic aligns with the Committee’s core remit by addressing poverty reduction, humanitarian assistance, and climate adaptation in lower-income countries. It reflects the UK’s moral responsibility and strategic interest in leading global efforts to tackle the intertwined challenges of climate change and migration. By focusing on climate-induced migration, the UK can demonstrate a commitment to human rights, international solidarity, and long-term development goals.

Parliamentary scrutiny will ensure that Government policies address the gaps in international frameworks and prioritise safe, legal, and humane responses to climate migration. It will also assess how UK aid can be strategically deployed to support adaptation in lower-income countries, aligning with broader climate and development goals. The Government must act to fulfil its international obligations, address the increasing pressures on global migration systems, and support vulnerable countries. Proactive leadership can prevent instability, uphold human rights, and foster international collaboration while protecting UK strategic interests.

Question 5: How Could Government Policy be Developed in this Area

Safe and Legal Migration Pathways

• Developing inclusive, humane policies for climate migrants, including resettlement schemes, humanitarian visas, and regional mobility agreements.
• Ensuring these pathways are aligned with international obligations under the Refugee Convention and human rights law.

Support for Adaptation and Mitigation

• Enhancing UK aid to support lower-income countries in building resilience to climate impacts, such as sustainable infrastructure, disaster preparedness, and green technology.
• Encouraging investments in climate mitigation projects to reduce the root causes of climate displacement.

Global Partnerships and UK Leadership

• Strengthening collaborations with international organisations, NGOs, and partner countries to address the dual challenges of migration and climate change.
• Highlighting how UK policy can lead by example, advancing global solutions and ensuring climate justice.

Climate-Induced Migration Trends and Impacts:

• Understanding the scale and scope of climate-induced displacement and its (disproportionate) impact on lower-income countries.
• Examining how climate migration intersects with other development challenges such as food insecurity, water scarcity, and conflict.

Policy and Legal Frameworks:

• Assessing existing international frameworks, including the Global Compact on Refugees and the Paris Agreement, to identify gaps in addressing climate-induced migration.
• Evaluating the potential for UK leadership in creating an international legal definition for climate migrants and associated protections.

Proposed Action
The Committee should examine:

• The UK’s role in shaping global governance frameworks for climate-induced migration.
• Opportunities for scaling up Official Development Assistance (ODA) to fund both climate adaptation and safe migration routes.
• How creating safe and legal pathways for climate migrants can align with UK policy objectives, such as reducing irregular migration and fostering global partnerships.

8 December 2024