Floods, heat waves, droughts—no corner of the world escapes the grip of the climate crisis. The United Nations links rising temperatures to environmental degradation, more frequent disasters, extreme weather, food and water insecurity, economic disruption, and even conflict and terrorism. This chain of effects often drives migrations.
Environmental harm caused by climate change forces millions to leave their homes each year. Most migrations occur within national borders. Reports on climate-driven displacement highlight that in 2020 more than 30 million people moved inside their own countries due to meteorological and geophysical events, a figure that could nearly double by 2050. The World Bank warns of a potential displacement of 143 million people under a worst case scenario. The message is clear: readiness is essential.
Under the Geneva Convention of 1951, climate migrants are not automatically recognized as refugees. Advocates in Spain point to the need for broader interpretations of refugee status to include those displaced by environmental harm. Policy leaders argue for more inclusive definitions that recognize harm caused by climate change as a cause for protection.
Flexibility is urged in crafting protection frameworks that acknowledge environmental degradation as a legitimate reason for status. If escaping harm can justify refugee recognition, why not climate-related harm?
alternative formulas
Ayuda en Acción’s director of political advocacy notes concerns that debating the inclusion of climate migrants in refugee definitions could lead to more restrictions rather than stronger protection.
Regionally, some protection systems offer security or assistance for climate-related issues even if they do not confer full refugee status, according to Casado.
CEAR explores options to broaden protection to stateless individuals who have lost homes to climate change. In the Pacific, places like Vanuatu have faced population movements due to rising seas. The New Economics Foundation has described Vanuatu as a land of happiness despite environmental pressures, a reflection of the complex realities many communities face as seas rise and life shifts with it.
The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre notes thousands of events in recent years, with millions displaced inside their countries due to disasters.
Where are the impacts felt most?
The Global North bears responsibility for a large share of historic greenhouse gas emissions, while the Global South experiences the sharpest consequences. A report on displacement and climate migration from Ecodes, Ayuda en Acción and Entreculturas emphasizes this imbalance and calls for equitable support from wealthier nations.
There is concern that climate justice rhetoric should translate into concrete support for vulnerable countries, preventing climate migrations from spreading further. In regions like Central America, drought in the last decade has driven many to relocate within the Dry Corridor, and similar pressures affect the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, where water, pasture, and crops are scarce.
Europe is not insulated from these pressures. Some crops are already shifting northward, and Spain remains especially exposed due to geography and socioeconomic factors. The continent faces heightened risk of desertification and exposure to climate risks for many communities.
Indigenous women and communities
Gender dynamics shape climate migrations. Women, often engaged in farming, are more vulnerable when extreme events strike and livelihoods are ruined. Relocation can increase risks of trafficking and violence. Indigenous communities, the elderly, the sick, and children are among the most vulnerable groups facing climate shocks according to advocates.
Gender and climate migration
Documented cases show women from regions like Bangladesh moving across borders in vulnerable situations, including forced marriages or exploitation. Studies highlight broader patterns of vulnerability among refugee women and girls in eastern Congo and Guinea who face exploitation in exchange for basic needs. Scholars note climate-related displacement tends to unfold along gender and age lines and call for projects that address climate action with a strong gender lens and urgent, ambitious plans for mitigation and adaptation.
International actors are urged to support projects that integrate climate action with gender equity, ensuring that solutions address the needs of those most affected. The goal is to reduce social exclusion and to improve access to housing, livelihoods, and safety for climate-affected families, especially those facing discrimination tied to nationality or race.