Changing climate Changing migration

As the world nears irreversible climate breakdown due to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, The UN environment agency UNEP states that there is no credible pathway to limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5c the globally agreed goal to avert global warming. This rise in global heating will cause more extreme weather events like floods, droughts, heatwaves, landslides around the world that continues to cause great lose of lives and livelihoods

“The human induced climate change is causing food insecurity due to failed harvests, water scarcity, storms impacting nations most especially global south countries which are the least contributors to climate change ”

The countries most impacted by climate change are less responsible for the mass carbon emissions that are the major drivers of the climate crisis, countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, South Sudan are facing humanitarian crisis as people due to climate catastrophes

Devastating floods and prolonged droughts that have killed thousands and left millions homeless This is causing the highest levels of human displacement. Displacement that will not only happen with in the boarders of these countries but people are already being forced to cross boarders as climate and environmental disasters make their communities unliveable

The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) estimates up to 1 billion environment migrants in the 30 years and the IPCC projects Drought will displace 700 million in Africa alone by 2030 For a for a continent with the population of 1.4 billion people, this means that more than half of Africa could be displaced in 8 years due to climate change . This will force people every year to flee their countries and cross boarders with millions taking journeys to Europe. This is as developed countries are safe guarding against the extreme impacts of climate catastrophe, developing countries which are worst hit have been excluded out on the plans

The number of migrants attempting to settle in Europe due to climate disasters will continue to increase seeing millions taking dangerous and deadly Journeys to Europe, journeys that are characterised by abuse at the hands of smugglers including sexual abuse of women and children lose of lives, forced prostitution despite their plight, more challenges and difficulties await migrants on their arrive at European boarders ); the abuse at hands of boarder authorities including beating, degrading treatments such as stripping migrants naked, freezing people to death and pushbacks that contribute to more deaths and disappearance of persons who desperately took journeys to save their lives

The UN under the 1951 Geneva international refugee law that defines who a refugee is doesn’t recognise environmental migrants as refugees. This means that environmental migrants can’t be granted legal protection and rights by any country.

The rise of popular anti migration far right leaders in Europe coupled with the 1951 convention will mean that the arriving environmental migrants will face more difficult than already present situations which include Denial of entry at boarders and rejection of their asylum applications resulting into into being detained in camps for their lives

“Europe will find it’s self in a challenging situation that will be characterized by denial and abuse of human rights of the millions of environmental migrants who will be locked up in detention centres, further more as the Europeans will be dealing with the climate crisis themselves key services will not be able to accommodate larger populations, the native population will likely feel pushed out as access to health care, education ,housing , transport will become more frustrating which will result into conflict between the natives and the migrants seeking for refugee ”

Currently there are 59.1 million climate refugees )but this number will surge in coming years.

The inclusion of global south countries like Uganda, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, DRC in net zero plans and supporting them adopt to the changing climate will be a solution to climate refugees and displaced people

“Climate Education is a powerful solution to combating the climate migration and displacement of people as it will not only create climate pro environmental people in local communities but will provide knowledge to individuals on how to avoid activities that cause environmental disasters, deal with present climate problems and adopt to climate change. ”

Climate Education will create awareness that will enable environmental consciousness and action hence communities fixing their environmental challenges.

Through climate education

• •farmers will be able to acquire new skills and knowledge on best farming practices which will help combat the growing hunger and famine that is killing people in East Africa
• communities will be more resilient to the impacts of extreme weather through equipping them with knowledge.
• Reduce the risks and vulnerabilities of dangerous and life threatening journeys
• Eliminate the threats faced by girls, children and persons with disabilities
• Tackle underlying inequalities that increase women and girls’ vulnerability to climate change
• Promote and protect right of persons with disabilities
• Develop green skills for green jobs for the young people

It's all in our interest to help countries that are more vulnerable to climate change to make their communities habitable. The climate crisis is going to be defined by a migration crisis and climate education is an effective solution to tackling this. Climate change is in most cases survivable if we act and ease the it’s impact on those that are most affected.