Climate-related migration is not a fictitious future scenario but is already a reality. Over the past decade, more than 20 million people have been forced to flee their homes every year due to climate- and weather-related disasters. Even if the 1.5°C threshold of global warming is met, scientific evidence suggests that the situation will worsen significantly. In many places, global warming and its impacts will lead to a deterioration of living conditions. Moreover, higher levels of warming may even make certain areas uninhabitable. The possibility to migrate thus becomes a strategy to adapt and to survive.
Those involved in creating Germany‘s foreign and development policy, and to some extent the country’s domestic policy, have to take this reality into account and integrate the consideration of climate-related migration into their work. Currently – despite intensive scientific research on the topic – there is a lack of concrete political developments that would improve the situation of people who are forced to migrate in the context of climate change. Against this background, this project aims to contribute targeted policy advice and create networks through our partnership with the Robert Bosch Foundation.
Our goal is to develop pragmatic and human rights-based approaches that focus on the perspective of those affected. We intend to consider the entire migration cycle in our work. Approaches to preventing forced migration, for example by improving the security of agricultural livelihoods, also play a role. Likewise, solutions that enable migration from areas that will be uninhabitable in the future as an adaptation strategy are an integral part of the project. Discriminatory narratives, disinformation, and the criminalization of migration should be counteracted by including perspectives from affected countries and an evidence-based dialogue. The project is thus part of the efforts to meet international obligations in the area of climate adaptation and to promote political and social support for doing so.
