The Climate

Change-Migration
Nexus & Global
Sustainability Science

IMAGE CREDIT: BILOXI-CHITIMACHA-CHOCTAW TRIBE

Sustainability Science for Global Survivability | 29 JUNE 2023 | Hannah R. Leonard

 1.
My Research: The Climate Change-Migration
Nexus in International Relations
IMAGE CREDIT: ADAM BEHSUDI
 My Research: The Climate Change-Migration
1.
Nexus in International Relations

What is the Climate-Change

Migration Nexus?
It is a phenomenon that describes how environmental threats
exacerbate the intensity of human migration patterns and
refugee crises. Ultimately, the ever increasing severity of
Climate Change has pressured the international community to
adapt for a significant influx of human migration.
 My Research: The Climate Change-Migration
1.
Nexus in International Relations

19%
Of the Earth’s Surface may uninhabitable by 2070
(Lustgarten, 2020)

32.6 Million People

Were displaced by climate threats in 2022.
(IOM Global Migration Data Portal, 2023)

1.2 Billion People

Are projected to be displaced by climate threats by 2050
(IEP, 2023)
 My Research: The Climate Change-Migration
01.
Nexus in International Relations
 My Research: The Climate Change-Migration
1.
Nexus in International Relations
International Relations and Climate Change Migration
Policy
• Community-Driven Relocation
(a.k.a. Planned Relocation)
• Through the UN, there have
been multiple int. agreements
that specifically focus on the
needs of climate refugees
■ Many of these initiatives are new,
so their long-term effectiveness
are still a matter of debate (UNHCR,
2020; UNICEF, 2019)
Practice Precedent
• There are already examples of • In 2020 the UN Human Rights
Committee ruled that it was
large-scale community
unlawful for member states to
relocation efforts. Such as:
deny people seeking asylum from
■ Internal Relocations in the
climate crises. However, in
Maldives (Gussmann, 2020)
practice, the international
■ Jakarta-Borneo Transition in
community has not fully
Indonesia (Rachman, 2022)
accepted the precedent set by
■ Isle De Jean Charles in the
this case. (OHCHR, 2020 | Podesta, 2021)
United States (U.S. GAO, 2020)
 2. The Impact of Global Sustainability Science:
New Perspectives in Lectures
IMAGE CREDIT: MEXT.GO.JAPAN
 The Impact of Global Sustainability Science:
2. New Perspectives in Lectures

Issues Related to Water and

I UNESCO and Other UN
Activities
Prof. Yasuto Tachikawa

A Few Key II
Energy Systems and Just Zero
Carbon Energy Transitions

Takeaways Under Uncertainty

Prof. Benjamin McLellan

Impacts of Climate Change on

About Us
III The Hydrological Cycle and
Adaptation
Prof. Takahiro Sayama
 The Impact of Global Sustainability Science:
2. New Perspectives in Lectures

Issues Related to Water and

I UNESCO and Other UN
Activities
Prof. Yasuto Tachikawa

What I Learned

● UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological

Programme in the Asia-Pacific (RSC)
● Education for Sustainable Development
● Chair on WENDI (Water, Energy, and
Disaster Management)
Prof. Takahiro Sayama
 The Impact of Global Sustainability Science:
2. New Perspectives in Lectures

Prof. Yasuto Tachikawa

Energy Systems and Just Zero

II Carbon Energy Transitions
Under Uncertainty
What I Learned
Prof. Benjamin McLellan

● Different Models for Sustainability Transitions

● Critical Minerals and Power Dynamics of Sustainable Development.
● Politics of Deep-Sea Mining in Papua New Guinea case.
Prof. Takahiro Sayama
● Yubari Coal Mine Beer
 The Impact of Global Sustainability Science:
2. New Perspectives in Lectures

What I Learned
● The work of the UNFCCC and IPCC
● The relationship ofTachikawa
Prof. Yasuto SSPs and RCPs
● Integrated Flood Management (IFM)
● Risk Assessment and Management in the
Private Sector
Prof. Takahiro Sayama
Prof. Benjamin McLellan

Impacts of Climate Change on

About Us
III The Hydrological Cycle and
Adaptation
Prof. Takahiro Sayama
 3.
My Research Going Forward: The Importance
of Interdisciplinary Strategies
IMAGE CREDIT: ALICE CHAPMAN
 My Research Going Forward: The
3. Importance of Interdisciplinary Strategies

Ultimate Goal: To research and

identify the most effective policy
frameworks for the humanitarian
issues linked to the
Climate Change-Migration Nexus.
 My Research Going Forward: The
3. Importance of Interdisciplinary Strategies
How this course has helped me
Issues Related to Water and
pursue that goal:
I UNESCO and Other UN
● Giving be a broader knowledge on
Activities
Prof. Yasuto Tachikawa Intergovernmental organizations and
co-operations.
Energy Systems and Just Zero
Carbon Energy Transitions ● Helping me understand the science that
II
Under Uncertainty goes into Disaster Risk Assessments,
Prof. Benjamin McLellan
Management, and Mitigation
Impacts of Climate Change on ● Offering real-world case studies to
About Us
III The Hydrological Cycle and further my practical knowledge.
Adaptation
Prof. Takahiro Sayama
 Conclusions & Questions
RECAP
● My Field of Study: International Relations
● Focus of My Research: Climate
Change-Migration Nexus
● Impact of this Course:
○ Gave me broader knowledge on Intergovernmental
organizations and co-operations.
○ Improved understanding of science behind Disaster
Risk Assessments, Management, and Mitigation
○ Offering real-world case studies and practical
knowledge.
IMAGE CREDIT: UNICEF
●
Works Cited
Behsudi, Adam. “No Higher Ground.” IMF, 2 Sept. 2021,
● Rachman. Global Voices, 31 Oct. 2022,
www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2021/09/maldives-climate-change-aminath-shauna-trenches
globalvoices.org/2022/10/30/indonesia-is-still-moving-its-capital-to-nusantara-despite-rising-public-opp
● Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Tribe. “Our Tribal Resettlement — Isle De Jean Charles, Louisiana.” Isle De
osition.
Jean Charles, Louisiana, www.isledejeancharles.com/our-resettlement.
● IEP, and Sean McAllister. There Could Be 1.2 Billion Climate Refugees by 2050. Here’s What You Need to
● Chapman, Alice. “Europe’s Mindset on Climate Migration Must Change.” Impakter, Feb. 2023,
Know. 2023,
impakter.com/europes-mindset-on-climate-migration-must-change.
www.zurich.com/en/media/magazine/2022/there-could-be-1-2-billion-climate-refugees-by-2050-here-s-
● Gussmann, Geronimo, and Jochen Hinkel. “What Drives Relocation Policies in the Maldives?” Climatic
what-you-need-to-know
Change, vol. 163, no. 2, Springer Science+Business Media, Nov. 2020, pp. 931–51.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-020-02919-8.
● IOM Global Migration Data Portal. “Environmental Migration.” Migration Data Portal, 8 June 2023,
www.migrationdataportal.org/themes/environmental_migration_and_statistics.
● IOM. (2008, February 28). Migration and Climate Change. International Organization for Migration.
https://www.ipcc.ch/apps/njlite/srex/njlite_download.php?id=5866
● Lustgarten. (2020, March 31). The Great Climate Change Migration Has Begun.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/23/magazine/climate-migration.html
● Martin. (2019, October 22). Who Are America’s “Climate Migrants,” and Where Will They Go?
https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/who-are-americas-climate-migrants-and-where-will-they-go
● OHCHR. “Historic UN Human Rights Case Opens Door to Climate Change Asylum Claims.” OHCHR,
www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2020/01/historic-un-human-rights-case-opens-door-climate-change-
asylum-claims.
● Podesta. (2021, July 1). The climate crisis, migration, and refugees. Brookings.
https://www.brookings.edu/research/the-climate-crisis-migration-and-refugees/
● UNICEF. New Guidelines Provide First Global Policy Framework on Protecting Children on the Move in
Face of Climate Change.
www.unicef.org/press-releases/new-guidelines-provide-first-global-policy-framework-protect-children-
move-displaced-face.