Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
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Report changes debate on future migration patterns in the face of environmental change
A new international report, published today by Foresight, reveals that the major challenges associated with migration and environmental change have been underestimated. By focusing solely on those that might leave vulnerable areas, we risk neglecting those that will be ‘trapped’ and those that will actually move towards danger.
It also shows that migration can have a transformative role in
helping communities adapt to hazardous conditions. This is a
critical finding for policy makers working to avert costly
humanitarian disasters in the future.
The ‘Migration and Global Environmental Change’ project
examines how profound changes in environmental conditions such as
flooding, drought and rising sea levels will influence and
interact with patterns of global human migration over the next 50
years. These patterns of human movement, 75 per cent of which is
internal, will present major challenges as well as potential
opportunities for communities and policy makers at both a national
and international level.
Professor Sir John Beddington, the Government’s Chief
Scientific Adviser and Head of the Foresight programme, said:
“Environmental change threatens to have a profound impact on
communities around the world – particularly in low income
countries. However, this report finds that the nature of the
global challenge goes beyond just focusing on those that might try
to move away from areas of risk. Millions will migrate into -
rather than away from - areas of environmental vulnerability,
while an even bigger policy challenge will be the millions who
will be ‘trapped’ in dangerous conditions and unable to move to safety.
“The evidence is also clear that under some circumstances
migration, particularly in low income countries, can transform a
community’s ability to cope with environmental change. The
movement of individuals or small groups, even at a local or
regional level, may increase the future resilience of large
communities. This will reduce the risk of both humanitarian
disasters and of potentially destabilising mass migration under
high risk conditions.”
The report’s main findings are that:
Millions will be ‘trapped’ in vulnerable areas and unable to
move, particularly in low-income countries. Migration is costly,
and with environmental conditions such as drought and flooding
eroding people’s livelihoods, migration – particularly over long
distances – may be less possible in many situations. This creates
high risk conditions.People will increasingly migrate towards
environmentally vulnerable areas. Rural to urban migration is set
to continue, but many cities in the developing world are already
failing their citizens with flooding, water shortages and
inadequate housing. Preliminary estimates show that up to 192
million more people will be living in urban coastal floodplains in
Africa and Asia by 2060, through both natural population growth
and rural-urban migration.However, migration can transform
people’s ability to cope with environmental change, opening up new
sources of income which help them become stronger and more
resilient. For instance, 2009 remittances to low income countries
were at $307 billion, nearly three times the value of overseas
development aid. These kinds of income flows may actually make it
possible for households, particularly in low income countries, to
stay in situ for longer. In summary, the report finds that
environmental change will affect human population movement
specifically through its influence on a range of economic, social
and political drivers. However, because of the range of factors
influencing the decision to migrate, environmental threats will
rarely be the sole driver of migration, nor will the policy
challenges be limited to people moving away from areas of risk.
The findings have implications for a broad range of policy
areas well beyond the migration and environmental spheres. These
include sustainable development, climate change adaptation, urban
planning and humanitarian assistance.
Two important areas of international focus include:
Global policies and funding mechanisms, which will be more robust
if they recognise the role of migration in helping to build
long-term resilience. International adaptation and development
policies will be better able to deliver if they take account of
the links between global environmental change and migration, as
well as recognise that migration can be part of the solution.Long
term urban planning, which can address critical issues such as
water availability, more frequent hazards and the well-being of
new migrants, who are often the most vulnerable.
Professor
Sir John Beddington added:
“It is essential to do all we can to both address
environmental change and make sure people are as resilient as
possible in the face of hazards. This means recognising the role
migration can play in helping people cope. For policy makers –
particularly those making decisions on climate adaptation – these
findings will be critical.”
The report outlines the findings of an extensive two year
study. The project has involved 350 experts in over 30 countries,
and commissioned 70 evidence papers which are also published today.
Professor Richard Black, chair of the project’s Lead Expert
Group and Head of the School of Global Studies and Professor of
Geography at the University of Sussex said:
“This report is unique in both its substantial evidence base
and in its global approach, and will provide policy makers and
others in the environment and development fields with a firm
basis upon which to tackle the migration challenges of the future.”
Notes to editors:
Foresight is in the Government Office for Science (GO-Science). GO-Science supports the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser in ensuring that the Government has access to, and uses, the best science and engineering advice. It is located within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.The UK Government's Foresight Programme helps Government think systematically about the future. Foresight uses the latest scientific and other evidence to provide advice for policymakers in addressing future challenges.Further details about the project can be found on the Foresight website http://www.bis.gov.uk/Foresight/ our-work/projects/current-projects/global-migrationFor a copy of the report or to request an interview please contact sally.catmull@bis.gsi.gov.uk or ring 020 7215 6577.For a copy of Migration and Global Environmental Change - Future Challenges and Opportunities - Executive Summary go to http://nds.coi.gov.uk/ImageLibrary/detail.aspx?MediaDetailsID=4574BIS's online newsroom contains the latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom for more information.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Sally Catmull
Phone: 020 7215 6577
sally.catmull@bis.gsi.gov.uk
