Mapping the Global Impact of Climate Change on Displacement
As the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) wraps up in Baku, Azerbaijan, the global dialogue on combating climate change confronts a grim reality: millions are being displaced annually by climate-related disasters.
The 2024 Global Report on Internal Displacement reveals that by the end of 2023, at least 6.6 million people worldwide were displaced due to weather-related disasters such as floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires. Many individuals faced repeated displacements, resulting in a staggering 20.3 million forced movements over the year. Additionally, 1.1 million people were displaced by natural disasters unrelated to climate change, including earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Julie Gassien, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s global lead on climate and environment, emphasized the gravity of the situation:
> “The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance will grow exponentially in countries vulnerable to climate change. Climate change will contribute to much larger numbers of people being displaced and will lead to more, larger, and more intense hazardous events.”
Climate Change Hotspots for Displacement
China and the Philippines topped the list of countries most affected by weather-related displacement in 2023. In China, 4.6 million people were displaced, while Typhoon Doksuri forced over a million Filipinos to flee, leaving a trail of destruction and loss of life.
Africa’s most significant displacement crisis occurred in Somalia, where the “worst floods in decades” forced 2 million people to abandon their homes. These weather events have also exacerbated risks for vulnerable communities, particularly in conflict zones.
Globally, floods and storms accounted for the majority of displacements, with 9.8 million and 9.5 million incidents respectively. Other contributors included droughts (491,000), wildfires (435,000), landslides (119,000), erosion (7,000), and extreme temperatures (4,700).
Sharp Rise in Weather-Related Displacements
The trend of climate-related displacement has escalated dramatically since the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) began tracking in 2008. Flood incidents surged from 272 in 2015 to 1,710 in 2023, marking a sixfold increase. Similarly, storm-related displacements jumped from 163 in 2015 to 1,186 in 2023, a sevenfold rise.
Collectively, floods and storms have caused 77% of all weather-related displacement incidents over the past 16 years, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable climate solutions.
As climate change intensifies, these figures are expected to climb, highlighting the critical importance of international collaboration and investment in resilience-building measures to protect vulnerable populations from further displacement.
Source : Swifteradio.com
