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Climate change is becoming a cause of flight: 86 million are threatened!
The World Climate Conference in Belém 2025 highlights the dramatic effects of climate change on refugees and calls for more support.
Climate change is becoming a cause of flight: 86 million are threatened!
At this year's World Climate Conference in Belém, the UNHCR highlighted the alarming situation of refugees suffering from extreme climate conditions. It is estimated that around 86 million people will suffer from the consequences of drought and heatwaves in 2025. These figures underline that climatic changes are playing an increasingly serious role in the statistics on the causes of flight.
As of 2023, around 117 million people were displaced, often facing the dual threats of war and climate change. Three out of four refugees and displaced persons live in countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate-related threats. A situation that requires urgent action.
Climate change as a cause of flight
The UN refugee agency highlights that extreme weather events such as floods and storms, exacerbated by climate change, are creating crisis situations that are forcing people to flee. Slow changes, such as sea level rise and the spread of deserts, also contribute significantly to this problem. Mark Ankerstein, Director of the UN Refugee Agency, is therefore calling for more support for the affected countries, which are often unable to protect their populations from these consequences.
In addition, international legal framework conditions are discussed. The OAU Convention of 1969 and the Cartagena Declaration of 1984 expand the definition of a refugee. These legal principles are based on experiences with political conflicts and natural disasters and now also include people who have to leave their homes due to climate change.
Accept global responsibility
The challenges facing refugees are diverse, and climate change is a crucial factor. Ankerstein emphasizes the need for urgent help for poorer countries that are particularly suffering from the consequences of extreme weather events. Awareness of the connection between climate change and migration is growing, which makes it necessary to rethink global refugee policy. The need for rapid and comprehensive support is becoming increasingly evident to enable people to remain in their home countries or flee to safety.