REPORT: Driving Global Action on Climate Migration: Advancing Progress in 2024

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Written By Ryan Conlan

The Climate Migration Council (CMC) – a collection of elected officials, business leaders, academics, and advocates committed to putting people at the center of climate action – celebrates another year of progress amidst the rising global challenges stemming from the pressures of climate change. Due to the deep expertise of our members, we were able to reach new audiences and deepen our connections with global leaders  who share a passion for supporting communities leaving their homes due to the climate crisis, and safeguarding the choices of people preferring to stay put.

The Council, which launched in 2022 with 43 founding members, has grown to include nearly 100 leaders across various government, business, national security, and academic sectors. This year, we welcomed our newest members, including Surangel S. Whipps, Jr., the President of the Republic of Palau, Sherrie Westin, CEO of the Sesame Workshop, Satya Rhodes-Conway, the Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin, Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, President and CEO of Global Refuge, Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization, and many more.

This year's growth is a testament to the invaluable contributions of numerous CMC members who engaged in valuable discussions, amplified the importance of global action with stakeholder engagements, and supported the development of several comprehensive resources for leaders navigating the growing climate crisis.

Here’s a look at some of the standout moments from 2024.

During Climate Week NYC, the CMC co-hosted a panel, “From Challenges to Opportunities: Locally-led Action on Climate and Migration," featuring Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago, Caterina Sarfatti, Managing Director for Inclusion and Global Leadership for C40 Cities, and Nishant Roy, Chief Communications and Impact Officer at Chobani. Expanding on the CMC’s research in collaboration with C40 Cites and the Mayors Migration Council, this panel discussed strategies for inclusive climate action and creating good green jobs while detailing the importance of inclusive policies that support migrants, who are essential to the green transition, especially in key industries such as agriculture.

Climate Week NYC 2024 panelists Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr (Mayor of Freetown), Brandon Johnson (Mayor of Chicago), Caterina Sarfatti (Managing Director for Inclusion and Global Leadership for C40 Cities), and Nishant Roy (Chief Communications and Impact Officer at Chobani)

At Aspen Ideas: Climate 2024, the CMC collaborated with the Mayors Migration Council and the University of Miami’s Climate Resilience Academy to host a first-of-its-kind climate migration panel, Cities at the Frontline of Climate Migration. Featuring Climate Migration Council members Jaime Pumarejo, Former Mayor of Barranquilla, Colombia, Vittoria Zanuso, Executive Director of Mayors Migration Council, and Melissa Blaustein, 2023 Mayor of Sausalito and Current City Councilmember, the panel highlighted the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of climate change and migration and identified models for success that state and local leaders can pursue.

Aspen Ideas: Climate 2024 panelists Jaime Pumarejo (Former Mayor of Barranquilla, Colombia), Vittoria Zanuso (Executive Director of Mayors Migration Council), and Melissa Blaustein (2023 Mayor of Sausalito and Current City Councilmember)

And while climate migration discussions were notably absent from the COP27 agenda just two years ago, human mobility was a pressing topic at COP29 with more and more global leaders acknowledging the urgent need for action on this pressing global challenge. For the past several years, the CMC and its members have attended the summit contributing to a collection of events to increase awareness of the importance of addressing climate migration challenges.

Shana Tabak (Director of Immigration Strategy, Emerson Collective and Advisor to the Climate Migration Council) speaks at COP29 panel ‘Means of Implementation for the Transition: A New Priority for Business’

This year was no different, as several CMC members including Adelle Thomas, Matthew Scott, Collette Pinchon Batters, Fred Krupp, Amy Pope, Michael Werz, President Surangel S. Whipps, Mark Watts, Manish Bapna, and Carlos Alvarado Quesada, were active on the ground in Baku.

Our members engaged in collaborative events and discussions focusing on ways to promote human mobility considerations in the climate finance negotiations. Furthermore, this opportunity allowed the CMC to expand its network further, by uniting members and colleagues to discuss key priorities, lessons learned, and aspirations for advancing climate mobility in this year’s negotiations during COP29’s Peace, Relief, and Recovery Day.

Beyond participation in major climate-focused events, our members continued to drive the conversation forward in national and international news. Take a look at just a small sampling of the coverage the CMC received this year:

The CMC also uncovered key insights to inform further action.

The CMC released three pivotal resources featuring insights from a collection of our members to educate leaders, promote unified action, and highlight the urgency of climate change. These resources include:  

  • In April, the CMC released The Compendium on Climate Mobility, a practical toolkit outlining five interconnected pillars to prevent displacement, enhance mobility pathways, and address loss and damage.

  • In collaboration with C40 Cities and the Mayors Migration Council, the CMC released a first-of-its-kind policy brief, ‘Good Green Jobs and Labour Migration: Opportunities for Urban Leaders, in September with more than 30 examples of city-led initiatives to drive the creation of green jobs.

  • Last month, the Climate Migration Council’s Security Working Group provided security actors with recommendations for addressing climate-driven displacement in a Position Statement on Security and Climate Mobility. The resource provides insight into the global security risks of increased climate migration while offering a proactive approach to prioritize people’s safety to minimize other security risks such as crime, economic strain, terrorism, and exploitation.

Here’s what’s next.

Looking ahead to 2025, the CMC will explore new and exciting avenues for advocacy to grow our cause, encourage global leaders to bolster investment in disaster preparedness, and drive global action on climate migration. Furthermore, we will continue to prioritize equity, justice, and human dignity when engaging with stakeholders as we, along with the rest of the world, prepare for a year of political transition. The Council looks forward to continuing its growth, as we focus on educating our newest global leaders and security actors on the importance of inclusive and proactive migration strategies that benefit communities on the move and the nations receiving them.

If you want to get in touch with the Climate Migration Council, please reach out to press@climatemigrationcouncil.org or visit ClimateMigrationCouncil.org.

 
Ryan Conlan
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