Explore how climate change is displacing millions—from floods to desertification—and what adaptation strategies can support affected communities.

Increasing evidence verifies that climate change is among the primary drivers of human migration. Tens of millions have already been displaced, with hundreds of millions more projected by mid-century. Sudden-onset disasters—floods, cyclones, droughts—trigger short-term displacement, while slow-onset processes like sea-level rise and desertification push migration over years. Areas such as coastal South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Small Island Developing States are under extreme stress. Without effective mitigation and adaptation, over 200 million people could become internal climate migrants by 2050, necessitating comprehensive policy intervention from local resilience-building to migration infrastructure.

1. Climate-Induced Migration Drivers

Climate events like cyclones, bushfires, and floods have broken records for displacing people in recent years. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 displaced over a million residents along the U.S. Gulf Coast, showing that no region is immune. In Bangladesh, rising seas threaten to eliminate one-seventh of the land, affecting food security and forcing migration into urban centers. Similarly, Pacific Islanders face reef degradation and saltwater intrusion that disrupt their livelihoods. In the Sahel, alternating droughts and floods have displaced over 60 million people since 2008, eroding agricultural viability and driving mass internal migration.

2. Scale and Projections

By the end of 2023, more than 117.3 million people had been forcibly displaced, with climate emergencies playing a major role. The World Bank’s Groundswell report projects over 216 million internal climate migrants by 2050, including 86 million in sub-Saharan Africa. While much of this migration remains internal, some cross borders, often facing resistance. Tuvalu has arranged yearly migration quotas with Australia to address sea-level threats through lawful migration pathways.

3. Regional Case Studies

In Bangladesh, a combination of sea-level rise, riverbank erosion, and cyclone damage fuels rural-to-urban migration, with many ending up in Dhaka’s slums. In the Sahel, climate shocks exacerbate poverty and instability, prompting circular migration between rural and urban zones, often with inadequate adaptation options. Pacific Island nations face existential threats—such as saltwater intrusion and coastline erosion—that push citizens to migrate to countries like New Zealand, though cultural and legal barriers remain.

4. Effects on Sending and Receiving Communities

Migration often brings remittances and redistributes income to vulnerable rural communities. However, sudden urban influxes can overwhelm housing, sanitation, and job markets. Refugees may face overcrowding, increased health risks, and trauma. A lack of formal status for climate migrants restricts access to healthcare and basic services. In some cases, tensions over scarce resources—especially land—have escalated into violent conflict, particularly in parts of the Sahel.

5. Policy Responses and Adaptation Strategies

Early warning systems, water management improvements, and resilient agricultural practices reduce forced migration risk. Community-based adaptation programs, often funded by the IOM and NGOs, help populations remain in place. National and international efforts, such as the Global Compact for Migration and the Nansen Initiative, are increasingly treating migration as a legitimate adaptation strategy. Policies promoting voluntary, safe migration and securing rights to land and services for climate migrants are critical.

Conclusion: Climate change is reshaping migration globally—through both sudden crises and long-term environmental shifts. While challenges abound, well-planned migration can also serve as a tool of adaptation and resilience. The future of climate-induced migration depends on integrated strategies that combine mitigation, adaptation, and human mobility to support both displaced persons and host communities.