Climate change and environmental disasters are increasingly prominent drivers of migration and displacement. They often amplify other factors that cause individuals to flee their homes, including war, violence, food insecurity, and lack of opportunity. Under the worst projections, by 2050, up to 216 million people around the world could be forced to move internally within their countries due to slow-onset climate change impacts, such as water scarcity, reduced crop productivity, and rising sea levels. This estimate paints a startling picture for displacement over the next several decades, should government inaction on the intersection of climate, development, human rights, gender, and migration policy continue. As one of the most arid and water-scarce regions in the world, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is particularly vulnerable to the changing climate. 

To better comprehend the current and future impacts of climate-induced displacement within the MENA region, this collection of policy briefs examines various avenues of protection for individuals displaced by climate change and delves into the question of whether responses to climate-induced displacement should be addressed at the country, regional, or global levels. As a whole, the collection calls for greater action on the issue of climate change and migration with regard to mitigation, prevention, and protection — as well as preparedness and human rights-focused responses for those forced to flee. 

The topic and guest contributions were developed in collaboration with the Lebanese American University’s Institute for Migration Studies in Beirut. 

READ THE COLLECTION