Amidst increasing concerns over the impact of climate change and
natural disasters, IOM is to host a two-day workshop that aims to
help the international community prepare for environmental
migration.

The workshop, which will open on 29 March at the International
Conference Centre Geneva, will feature a keynote address by the
Special Representative for Climate Change, Luis Alfonso de Alba
Góngora of Mexico. Other speakers will include senior
government officials, academics and international experts in the
field of migration, environment and disaster management.

Few issues are likely to be as decisive for the future of
societies and economies worldwide as climate change. Environmental
factors have long influenced global migration flows, but the
realities of climate change – evident in more intense natural
disasters, drier soils, eroded coastlines, or sea level rise
– will have unprecedented consequences for the movement of
people.

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"padding: 3px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% rgb(51, 102, 204);">Related
Link alt="" border="0" height="12" hspace="0" src=
"/jahia/webdav/site/myjahiasite/shared/shared/mainsite/graphics/interface/icons_buttons/blue_link_box.gif"> "http://www.iom.int/idmclimatechange/lang/en" title="">Climate
Change, Environmental Degradation and Migration

Environmental migration is a phenomenon expected to increase
dramatically over the next 40 years with some estimates suggesting
that between 25 million and 1 billion people will be displaced by
climate change by 2050.

IOM Director General William Lacy Swing reiterates that "the
time for action is now. The key is to be proactive, and to support
vulnerable communities before migration becomes a matter of sheer
survival."

Given these predictions, the workshop will explore not only the
serious humanitarian consequences of environmental migration but
also the potential for migration to be a feasible response or
solution to the challenges posed by climate change.

The discussions will focus on ways governments and agencies can
develop a comprehensive approach to tackling climate change with a
particular emphasis on linking migration management with climate
change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and sustainable
development.

Equally important will be discussing how environmental migrants
can be protected and helped while on the move to ensure their
safety and security.

For the agenda and background documents, please go to "paragraph-link-no-underline" href=
"http://www.iom.int/idmclimatechange/lang/en">www.iom.int/idmclimatechange/lang/en.