Refugee Crisis & Climate Change

Credit: http://www.unhcr.org.uk

These figures pale in comparison to the number of people who are likely to be displaced because of climate change. During his recent visit to Alaska, President Obama drew attention to the plight of whole villages that have to be relocated because of climate change. The International Organization for Migration estimates that by 2050 climate change could create an additional 25 million to 1 billion displaced people. The massive displacement of persons will take place all over the world simultaneously in desperate and disorderly fashion. If the international community now struggles to meet the needs of refugees and other migrants, how will it address the issue of migration due to climate change? How will we respond?