Background

Pursuant to Human Rights Council Resolution 43/6, the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants is mandated “to examine ways and means to overcome the obstacles existing to the full and effective protection of the human rights of migrants, recognizing the particular vulnerability of women, children and those undocumented or in an irregular situation” (paragraph 1 (a), A/HRC/RES/43/6). In carrying out his mandate, the Special Rapporteur has decided to dedicate his forthcoming report to the 77th session of the General Assembly to the issue of the impact of climate change and the protection of the human rights of migrants.

Climate change, an increasingly potent driver of migration, continue to compel millions of people to leave their homes every year. The latest Groundswell report¹ released by the World Bank finds that climate change could force 216 million people across six world regions² to move within their countries by 2050. Given the linkage between internal displacement and international migration, this figure helps to illustrate the scope of cross-border climate change-related migration.

Objectives

Building on the findings of the report of his predecessor (A/67/299), submitted to the 67^th session of the General Assembly, in the forthcoming report, the Special Rapporteur wishes to:

• advance the understanding of the complex relationship between climate change, human rights and migration as well as the multifaceted drivers of international migration in the context of climate change;
• examine the human rights situation of migrants, especially women, children and other individuals in specific vulnerable situations, affected by the adverse effects of climate change, bearing in mind that vulnerabilities may occur throughout the migration process and regardless of whether the movement was “voluntary” or not;
• analyse the contribution of effective national prevention, protection and assistance instruments provided for internally displaced persons owing to climate change to minimizing the drivers and factors that compel people to leave their countries of origin;
• identify promising practices at the local, national and regional levels, including considerations given to climate change impacts as a possible ground for admission and stay in relevant asylum and migration procedures and any concrete mechanisms granting human rights protection to migrants in the context of climate change impacts, including in combination with other factors;
• examine processes made on devising available and flexible pathways for regular international migration in the context of climate change as an adaptation option, recognizing that well-managed migration can become an effective adaptation strategy in the context of climate change, and can contribute positively to all aspects of economic, environmental and social development of the host community.

Key questions and types of input/comments sought

The Special Rapporteur welcomes inputs from Member States, inter-governmental organizations, UN entities, civil society organizations, national human rights institutions, business representatives and other stakeholders, on any or all of the following issues, including case studies and specific examples of good practices and current challenges:

Download the questionnaire (PDF): English | Français | Español

How and where to submit inputs

Inputs may be sent via e-mail. All submissions must be received by 16 May 2022.

1. Please provide information, where applicable, on how existing national efforts to address internal displacement in the context of climate change contribute to minimize drivers compelling people to migrate. Please include any measures taken to protect, assist and provide durable solutions to persons, particularly women and children and other individuals with specific vulnerabilities, who have been internally displaced due to the adverse effects of climate change, and effective climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, as well as measures to address loss and damage associated with impacts of climate change. Please also describe any protection gaps that have been identified in this context. 
2. Please provide information on climate change-related cross-border movements observed in your country and/or region, including information on the main challenges, impacts and key human rights concerns. How has climate change exacerbated other migration drivers?
3. Please indicate how relevant State obligations under international human rights and refugee law are respected at the national level in addressing climate change-related international migration and providing protection to persons crossing international borders in response to the adverse effects of climate change. More specifically, please explain to what extent the impacts of climate change are recognized as a possible ground for admission and stay in national migration laws and policies, as well as asylum procedures and other procedures, including for temporary and long-term protection and return procedures. Please include information on any concrete mechanisms put in place to grant admission and stay and ensure protection to people fleeing the adverse effects of climate change.
4. Please share examples of national and regional solutions to expand and facilitate pathways for safe and regular migration for people who are compelled to leave their countries in the context of climate change. Please indicate whether your country has adopted any bilateral, subregional, regional, international mechanisms, agreements, frameworks or programs, to facilitate safe, orderly and regular movements for migrants in the context of climate change.
5. Please share examples of good practices that your country or region have adopted to promote a human rights-based approach to international migration in the context of climate change and to ensure the protection of the human rights of persons crossing borders in the context of climate change. Please indicate any specific challenges that your Government has encountered, or any protection gaps that have been identified, in ensuring the effective enjoyment of human rights of migrants, particularly women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, minorities and other persons, groups and peoples with specific vulnerabilities, affected by climate change.
6. Please provide information on measures taken by your country to support and facilitate the integration of arriving migrants in the context of climate change-related migration and highlight any contributions of migrants to the host communities.
7. Engagement with civil society organizations, national human rights institutions, and other stakeholders: please provide information of concrete initiatives, actions and programs relating to migration and climate change that have been developed by civil society organizations and other stakeholders in your country. Please explain to what extent the work of civil society organizations and other stakeholders on migration and climate change is taken into account to inform national policies.
8. Please provide information on any specific or additional challenges in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in the implementation of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
9. Please include any other information relating to the impacts of climate change on migration and the human rights of affected populations.

1/ Groundswell Report, the World Bank, available at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2021/09/13/climate-change-could-force-216-million-people-to-migrate-within-their-own-countries-by-2050

2/ The six regions refer to sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, South Asia, East Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America