The Climate Migration Council, In Partnership with C40 Cities and Mayors Migration Council, Releases Analysis Showing Role Climate Migrants Are Playing in Green Transition

Analysis Highlights 30 Examples of City-Led Initiatives Driving the Creation of Green Jobs

NEW YORK – The Climate Migration Council, C40 Cities, and Mayors Migration Council today released a first-of-its-kind analysis, ‘Good Green Jobs and Labour Migration: Opportunities for Urban Leaders.’ The policy brief highlights how inclusive climate action that creates jobs is critical in cities of origin, transit, and destination; addressing root causes of migration, offering climate-resilient livelihoods, and fostering economic inclusion of people on the move.

With more than 30 examples of city-led initiatives to drive the creation of green jobs, the policy brief emphasizes the importance of investing in a diverse and inclusive workforce to benefit migrants and long-term residents alike.

“Accra, and cities across all of the Global South, are confronting the effects of the climate crisis whilst also welcoming displaced populations from across their countries, many without access to formal employment or status,” said Elizabeth Sackey, Mayor of Accra, Ghana. “Locally-led climate action, driven by local-level data and backed by sufficient climate finance, presents a key opportunity for cities to facilitate the inclusion of migrants while protecting all residents from climate impacts."

“As cities face the climate crisis and support residents affected in various ways, mayors lead in fostering the conditions for a more inclusive and sustainable urban environment,” said Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan, Italy. “This research highlights the urgency of our actions. In Milan we prioritise education and labour integration and we are expanding the efforts to create thousands of green jobs. Our commitment is clear: to protect the environment while ensuring everyone benefits from a just transition.”

“Migrants bring skills, expertise, and an entrepreneurial mindset to the communities they settle in, particularly in sectors that are critical to the green transition, including agriculture, construction, waste management, and more,” said Marshall Fitz, Managing Director of Immigration at Emerson Collective and advisor to the Climate Migration Council. “Cities that invest in the creation of good green jobs can accelerate their energy transition by ensuring migrants are able to access those opportunities. This research shows that by welcoming migrants and investing in skills training for all workers, we can meet a number of critical objectives: provide economic empowerment to workers, help meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, and build more resilient and inclusive cities for all.”

"At C40, we see the crucial role cities are playing in addressing climate migration and supporting vulnerable communities,” said Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities. “The innovative efforts taken by cities highlight the leadership at the local level, from integrating informal workers to providing vital services for migrants. However, it is disappointing that these issues are relegated to just a paragraph in the UN’s draft Pact for the Future. If we are truly serious about climate migration on a global scale, national governments must step up with more than token commitments. Cities are on the front lines of the climate crisis and are bearing the brunt, yet our efforts alone are not enough. This is a human issue, a matter of livelihoods. We need decisive action now."

"Whether supporting green microenterprises in Freetown or integrating migrant waste workers into cooperatives in Accra, city leaders show what inclusive climate action looks like in practice,” said Vittoria Zanuso, Executive Director of the Mayors Migration Council. “City leadership can turn climate migration from a crisis into an opportunity." 

Related research was recently released by C40 Cities and Mayors Migration Council. Read it here. To learn more about this policy brief and the work the Climate Migration Council is doing, please visit https://www.climatemigrationcouncil.org and follow us on X and LinkedIn.