Enhancing Protection and Empowerment of Migrants and Communities Affected by Climate Change and Disasters in the Pacific Region

The small island states of the Pacific region are extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change which increases the risk of flooding, storms, and extreme weather events. Rising sea levels also cause coastal erosion and salinity intrusion destroying the livelihoods of those dependent on agriculture and fishing. Moreover, the region is at significant risk of geophysical hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. Limited disaster preparedness and capacity to respond further exacerbate the impacts of disasters. As a result, both forced and voluntary climate-induced migration are on the rise, increasing the vulnerability of affected groups.

The overall goal of the programme is to protect and empower communities affected by climate change and disasters in the Pacific Islands, focusing on climate-related displacement, migration, and planned relocation. Objectives of this programme include: (i) strengthening Governments’ capacities and coordination through a regional rights-based response; (ii) promoting safe labour migration as part of a sustainable development and climate change adaptation strategy; and (iii) developing and contributing to evidence-based good practices in response to climate and disaster-related displacement.

KEY MATERIALS
Programme Summary
Programme PCCMHS Newsletter March 2021
Programme PCCMHS Newsletter November 2020
Programme Brief
Press Release
High-level Ministerial Meeting on Migration and Climate Change in SIDS [Concept Note] [Press Release]
Knowledge Platform
Article How Climate Change Affects the Pacific on the Migration Data Portal
Policy Brief, “Policy developments and options to address human mobility in the context of climate risk in the Pacific Islands Region”, published in May 2021 ​
Policy Brief, “Navigating human security and climate mobility in the Pacific Sea of Islands”, published in April 2022​​

With climate-induced migration and displacement on the rise, the programme implemented by the UN system in partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the Platform on Disaster Displacement contributes to the development of a regional framework on climate change-related migration, displacement and planned relocation in the Pacific region with the goal to promote safe labor migration, develop the capacities of most vulnerable communities, and provide good practices on better management of migration in communities highly susceptible to adverse effects of climate change.

Grounded in the principles of human security, the regional framework consists of multi-stakeholder platforms that cut across sectors to include the participation of all stakeholders to address gaps in existing policies and instruments within and across countries on climate mobility and regional collaboration.

Based on structured inputs from governments (national and local), community councils, civil society, worker and employer organizations, diaspora, academia, traditional and faith-based leaders, women, youth, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities, technical and working groups are established to encourage intra-Pacific dialogues on climate mobility and how lessons learned and good practices can be translated into a regional framework that supports national priorities and benefits from global processes.

The regional framework, by considering the complex interplay between climate change and disasters and their negative impact on economic, social, environmental, personal and community securities, calls for and strengthens policy coherence across climate change, disaster management, human mobility, and sustainable development while ingraining the flexibility necessary to account for the specificities of each national context.

Through engaged and sustained dialogue, the programme and its focus on human security bolsters cooperation, reduces vulnerabilities, increases resilience, innovates for adaptation and prepares for human mobility in the face of more damaging, frequent and expansive impacts from climate change.