Climate Change and Humanitarian Crises

The Fight and Flight of Environmental Change

In 2010 I wrote an article for Environment Magazine, The Fight and Flight of Environmental Change, that examined how environmental change can lead to displacement, human rights concerns, and war and conflict. Environmental change, including climate change, can both create new vulnerabilities and exacerbate those that already exist. For those already living on the margins, this additional stress may overwhelm individual, familial, and social resilience. People and populations may be forced to migrate to unfamiliar parts of their own country or become internally displaced, migrate internationally or become "environmental refugees," or try to find a way to meet their needs in the "new normal." In desperation, some may turn to maladaptive coping strategies like crime, violence, or armed conflict to provide for themselves and their families.

New Feinstein International Center Report:
Climate Change as a Driver of Humanitarian Crises and Response 

Last week, the Feinstein Center for International Studies at Tufts University released a new report on Climate Change as a Driver of Humanitarian Crises and Response that explores many of the themes highlighted in my 2010 article:

"This paper explores the relationships between climate change, humanitarian crises and humanitarian response through a review of published and grey literature.  We examine the historical evidence for associations between climate change and humanitarian crises, and move on to a brief review of present humanitarian crises directly attributable to disasters triggered by climatological events.  Finally, we look at three interrelated aspects of future trends: changing weather patterns, increasing societal vulnerabilities, and shifting demographics. We conclude with some thoughts on the policy and practical implications for the aid community, academia, and donor and crisis-affected states, emphasizing the need to shift from a mindset in which crisis response is exceptional and interventionist to one in which managing crises is seen as the norm, part of sovereignty and internalized within more formal international and national arrangements."

- Report webpage summary

More soon on my Wordpress site

I will be writing more on the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on health, livelihoods, and humanitarian crises on my Wordpress site in the coming days, as well as the topics explored by the Feinstein International Center report. In the mean time, I wanted to make sure that the report was on the radar of anyone interested in the relationship between climate change and humanitarian crises and its impact on the humanitarian system. Please do pass it on if you know somebody who should read it.

- Mey Akashah