By : Lloyd Mahachi
Climate change is causing more people to lose their homes. Since 2008, at least 359 million people have been displaced due to weather-related disasters. This is a big problem that the world needs to solve.
The countries with the highest number of weather-related displacements in 2023 were China and the Philippines, with 4.6 million and 2.1 million respectively. Somalia experienced the continent’s highest number of displacements in Africa, with 2 million people displaced due to floods. Weather-related events also increase risks for already vulnerable communities, including those affected by conflict.
Floods and storms accounted for the vast majority of displacements, with 9.8 million and 9.5 million respectively. Droughts, wildfires, and landslides also led to significant displacements. The number of weather-related displacement incidents has risen sharply over the past 16 years, with floods and storms being responsible for 77 percent of all weather-related incidents globally from 2008 to 2023.
The Global South, including large parts of Africa, Asia, Asia Pacific, MENA, and Latin America, experienced five times more displacements relative to their populations compared to countries in the Global North in 2023. This phenomenon is considered one of the major “global injustices,” where the Global South has contributed the least to the problem but is suffering the most severe impacts.
Experts warn that the “worsening of extremes” is expected to persist if global warming is not limited to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century. The Internal Displacement Monitoring Center’s policy adviser, Alice Baillat, emphasized that addressing disaster displacement requires addressing both its root causes and the losses and damages it creates. However, current pledges at COP are considered inadequate, as they do not fully consider the true costs of displacement.
The effectiveness of COP in addressing climate change and displacement is also being questioned. More than 200 former leaders and climate experts have called for a “fundamental overhaul” of the UN-led COP summit. Experts like Pushker Kharecha at Columbia University’s Earth Institute are skeptical about what summits like COP can achieve, emphasizing the need for a global carbon pricing system that penalizes greenhouse gas emissions fairly.
Climate change is a global problem that requires a global solution. The world needs to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help people who have been displaced due to climate change. This is a big challenge, but it is not impossible. If we work together, we can make a difference and create a more sustainable future for all.
Editor : Josephine Mahachi
