200 million people will be displaced by 2050. Main reason being environmental degradation, largely caused by climatic stresses. Today, migration issues are at the heart of debates. The reality is quite complex and, contrary to popular belief, three-quarters of displacements occur mostly within the individual countries; while more than one-third of international migration occurs in the southern hemisphere.
A legal vacuum
While that environmental disasters always existed, the general interest in environmental migrations has increased following a number of natural disasters in the early 2000s. These displacements are complex to estimate, assess and categorise: choices or constraints ? short or long term? locally or internationally? But then how can one define an environmental migrant?
Since there is no legal definition, that of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is widely used: “Persons or groups of persons who, mainly for reasons related to sudden or progressive environmental change that adversely affect their life or their living conditions, are obliged to leave their usual home or to leave on their own initiative temporarily or permanently and therefore move within or out of their country”.
While the Geneva Convention protects migrants fleeing persecution, international law does not recognise natural disasters, environmental degradation or climate change as a form of persecution.
Toward an international cooperation...
As the notion of “environmental migration” is very abstract, raising awareness among politicians and the general public is essential to demystifying this phenomenon. Moreover, while these movements predominantly occur within a country, it seems essential to create cooperations between States through the sharing of expertise and consultation between regions. Cooperation would make it possible to introduce measures for the prevention, protection and facilitation of migration, which is less costly than repairing damage. As such, it is difficult, if not impossible, to assess the costs of migration, since the criteria to be taken into account are numerous. From its side, the private sector can contribute to the implementation of measures for prevention and protection, for example, through direct investment in support programs and more broadly by adopting production policies or climate-friendly development policies.
EXPLORING ENVIRONMENTAL MIGRATIONS
At the beginning of November 2016, the University of Liège inaugurated the first observatory in the world dedicated to the research and teaching of environmental migrations: the Hugo Observatory.
Why should environmental migrations be studied?
Since 2008, 26 million people worldwide left their homes every year because of natural disasters, 85% of which are climate-related. Facing these figures, in 2015, 110 governments have adopted an international agenda for the protection of environmental migrants in Geneva (as part of the Nansen initiative) and the public authorities are asking for detailed analyses in order to make decisions.
What is the role of the Observatory?
The objective of the Hugo Observatory is to analyse more closely the phenomenon of environmental migration in order to better anticipate it. The Observatory aims at examining the multiple links that bind environmental change, policy, migration and displacement. Today, the Observatory has eight researchers and also wants to develop collaborations with international organisations and foreign universities. The team has an internationally recognised expertise, particularly in West Africa, Southeast Asia and the South Pacific, through partnerships with local institutions.
The Observatory currently carries out three large-scale projects. Find out more here.
EXPLORING ENVIRONMENTAL MIGRATIONS
At the beginning of November 2016, the University of Liège inaugurated the first observatory in the world dedicated to the research and teaching of environmental migrations: the Hugo Observatory.
Why should environmental migrations be studied?
Since 2008, 26 million people worldwide left their homes every year because of natural disasters, 85% of which are climate-related. Facing these figures, in 2015, 110 governments have adopted an international agenda for the protection of environmental migrants in Geneva (as part of the Nansen initiative) and the public authorities are asking for detailed analyses in order to make decisions.
What is the role of the Observatory?
The objective of the Hugo Observatory is to analyse more closely the phenomenon of environmental migration in order to better anticipate it. The Observatory aims at examining the multiple links that bind environmental change, policy, migration and displacement. Today, the Observatory has eight researchers and also wants to develop collaborations with international organisations and foreign universities. The team has an internationally recognised expertise, particularly in West Africa, Southeast Asia and the South Pacific, through partnerships with local institutions.
The Observatory currently carries out three large-scale projects. Find out more here.
