Madame Chairperson,

Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since this is the first time that we address the Second
Committee this year, Madame Chairperson, allow me to extend, on
behalf of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) our
congratulations to you and all members of the Bureau on your
election to this 62nd session.

The relationship between the environment and migration is now
attracting increasing attention and we are pleased that the
Secretary General’s Report on the Implementation of United
Nations Environmental Conventions makes significant references to
this problem.  IOM fully supports the Secretary
General’s call to have an effective discussion on the topic
and agree that “a more in-depth analysis of the definition of
environmental migration is needed as well as an analysis of the
causes and consequences of migration and the recognition of
environmental refugees under international law…”. In
this regard IOM considers it crucial to come to a mutual
understanding on an inclusive terminology, while recognizing that
this task is made complex by the multi-directional links between
environmental change, human security, conflict and migration.

These challenges notwithstanding, IOM proposes the following
definition: “Environmental migrants are persons or groups of
persons who, for compelling reasons of sudden or progressive
changes in the environment that adversely affect their lives or
living conditions, are obliged or have to leave their habitual
homes, or choose to do so, either temporarily or permanently, and
who move either within their country or abroad.”

This working definition encompasses people who are displaced by
natural disasters as well as those who choose to move because of
gradual but steadily deteriorating conditions, recognizing that the
scale of migration resulting from gradual changes is likely to be
far greater than the displacement resulting from individual, even
catastrophic, events.  It also acknowledges that
environmentally-induced movement or displacement can be internal as
well as international. To advance a dialogue with Member States and
other stakeholders on this proposed definition and related issues,
the forthcoming Council of IOM in late November this year in Geneva
will devote one its sessions to “climate change,
environment  and migration” so to maintain a focused
intergovernmental debate on the subject. In addition, and in the
context of the Greek chairmanship of the Human Security Network,
IOM and the Greek Government are working towards the organization
of a conference early next year on addressing the human security
impact of climate change on vulnerable groups, such as persons
fleeing their homes due to climate change.

For migrants and their families, extreme environmental events
and gradual changes in habitat present enormous implications for
human security. The risks to public health alone are telling and
can include direct impacts such as heat stress, injuries, air
pollution and cancer; ecosystem mediated impacts such as increased
risk of infectious diseases, malnutrition, vector-, food- and
water-borne diseases; and other indirect impacts.

The human security of environmental migrants can also be
undermined by conflict. On the one hand, environmentally-generated
conflicts can lead to human displacement.

Reductions in arable land, potable water or fish stock can give
rise to territorial disputes, or conflicting claims to rights to
resource-use. Tension can mount where the grievances of
environmentally-vulnerable communities go unanswered. This sense of
alienation could further grow if alterations to the habitat are
seen to have been caused by others. Similar grievances could erupt
in cases of stark cross-border resource disparities.

Madame Chairperson,

IOM believes that a number of principles and approaches already
known and used in other migration management contexts could and
should be evaluated to assess their relevance to deal with
environmentally-induced migration.

Early planning and action are essential to orderly address
environmental migration and can, in some cases, limit mass or
forced migration and its impacts on human security. A proactive
approach can also mitigate adverse environmental impacts of
unmanaged mobility. Increased, predictable and sustainable
development assistance will be required to strengthen risk
reduction and the coping capacity of communities affected by
environmental degradation.

As many States will face multiple environmental migration
scenarios simultaneously, comprehensive and evidence-based policy,
as well as sufficient budgetary support for long-term planning, is
needed. Such policies should seek a balance between migration
control and sharing of responsibilities. They should also be
informed by inter-ministerial and cross-sectoral dialogue and
structures to ensure policy coherence open to public debate and
participation.

As migration and environmental processes are transnational
phenomena, gains can be achieved through inter-state cooperation in
relevant policy areas. In fostering such cooperation, regional
consultative processes on migration could provide useful fora for
dialogue, research and capacity-building. Where internal
resettlement options are not feasible, exploring bilateral or
multilateral resettlement arrangements may be warranted. Mitigating
forced displacement also calls for improved cooperation in disaster
preparedness and management. Effective early warning systems,
well-informed populations, and ready humanitarian assistance are
crucial

In conclusion Madam Chairperson, effective management of
environmental migration is essential to ensuring human security,
health and well-being and to facilitating sustainable development.
Only through more informed action and increased multi-stakeholder
cooperation, societies around the world will be able to achieve
these objectives.

I thank you, Madame Chairperson.