*Azerbaijan*– A new report from the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) highlights the alarming intersection of climate change and the refugee crisis, revealing that climate hazards have contributed to a doubling of displaced individuals to over 120 million worldwide. The findings were released on Tuesday during the COP29 climate meeting in Azerbaijan.
According to the UNHCR, three-quarters of the world’s forcibly displaced individuals reside in countries severely impacted by climate-related hazards. Over the past decade, the number of people fleeing conflict has surged, with 90 million of those in regions facing high to extreme exposure to climate risks.
The report emphasizes that many displaced individuals are situated in areas plagued by both conflict and significant climate threats, including nations like Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Syria.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi stated, “For the world’s most vulnerable people, climate change is a harsh reality that profoundly affects their lives. The climate crisis is driving displacement in regions already hosting large numbers of people uprooted by conflict and insecurity, compounding their plight and leaving them with nowhere safe to go.”
The report details the plight of approximately 700,000 individuals forced to flee conflict in Sudan, many of whom have crossed into neighboring Chad. This country, while hosting refugees for years, is also highly vulnerable to climate change, with those remaining in Sudan facing risks of further displacement due to severe flooding.
In Myanmar, over 70 percent of refugees have sought refuge in Bangladesh, where cyclones and flooding are classified as extreme hazards. Grace Dorong, a climate activist and former refugee in South Sudan, remarked, “In our region, where so many people have been displaced for so many years, we see the effects of climate change before our very eyes. I hope the voices of the people in this report help decision-makers to understand that if not addressed, forced displacement – and the multiplying effect of climate change – will get worse.”
The COP29 summit has convened delegates from nearly 200 countries to address climate-related challenges, although notable nations such as the United States and China have not sent top-level representatives. The summit commenced amid warnings that 2024 is poised to set new temperature records, amplifying discussions around climate funding, especially as developing countries call for an increase in the $100 billion annual target.
Damilola Ogunbiyi, UN special representative on sustainable energy, expressed her expectations regarding climate finance, stating, “We have a record-breaking year of investments in clean renewable energy. However, only 15 percent of that goes to the Global South.”
The recent political climate, including the election of Donald Trump as the US president, has intensified the urgency of the discussions, particularly as Trump has previously threatened to withdraw the United States from the landmark Paris Agreement aimed at curbing global warming.