Human mobility in the context of climate change has continued to attract substantial attention in international research and policy circles. In particular, the most recent assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) notes observed and ongoing changes in global climatic and ecological systems. These slow-onset changes, such as rising sea levels, salinisation and increasing temperatures, are having an adverse impact on the ability of populations to secure a livelihood and on their survival, especially in marginal areas. An increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme events such as floods, typhoons, drought and heatwaves will adversely affect human populations. This is likely to contribute to an increase in water shortages, food insecurity and disease and create new vulnerabilities with the potential for displacement, emergence of new patterns of migration and a higher probability of planned relocation.

The Global Programme “Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change” aims at improving applied knowledge to the sustainable management of climate change-induced human mobility. To this end, the programme supports its partner regions (the Caribbean, the Pacific Islands, East Africa) and the Philippines in identifying and implementing adaptation mechanisms. Over six years of committed as well as ongoing efforts, a range of outputs and knowledge resources were/are developed, which are presented in this factsheet.