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Report on Climate Mobility and Sustainable Development Goals at COP30

IOM’s Call for Integrated Adaptation Strategies

At the COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) issued a formal recommendation for negotiators to integrate climate mobility into the core of national adaptation plans. This initiative directly supports Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action) by focusing on human-centric adaptation measures. Ugochi Daniels, IOM’s Deputy Director General, stated, “People and communities who choose to stay must be safe, and those who decide to move must have the option to do so with dignity.” This position underscores the principles of SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by advocating for the rights and safety of vulnerable populations. The IOM is currently implementing community-focused projects in 80 countries, aiming for COP30 to serve as a pivotal moment for including human mobility in adaptation plans and loss and damage funding frameworks.

Case Studies: The Human Dimension of Climate Displacement

Haiti: A Case of Climate Injustice and Community Resilience

The testimony of Robert Montinard, a Haitian refugee in Brazil, highlights the profound and lasting impacts of climate-related disasters. Displaced by the 2010 earthquake, he now leads the Association Mawon to assist others. His experience exemplifies the concept of “climate injustice,” a critical issue related to SDG 10, as he contrasts the rapid recovery in nations like the United States with the persistent devastation in Haiti following similar climate events. In pursuit of local solutions, Montinard presented a formal proposal to Brazilian officials, advocating for actions that align with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The key proposals include:

• The creation of municipal climate councils to empower local governance.
• The implementation of policies to combat environmental racism.
• The formation of community-led brigades for disaster response.

Ethiopia: Climate Change as a Conflict and Displacement Multiplier

Makebib Tadesse from Ethiopia reported on a “continuous cycle of violence and displacement” driven by climate-induced food and water shortages. His account illustrates how climate change acts as a threat multiplier, exacerbating conditions that undermine SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 16. Tadesse noted that in northern Ethiopia, the impact of climate change is comparable to, or even exceeds, the devastation of the 1974-1991 civil war, driving unprecedented levels of outward migration.

Global Advocacy and Partnerships for Displaced Populations

The Role of UNHCR and International Cooperation

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) facilitated a delegation at COP30, including Robert Montinard, Makebib Tadesse, and Venezuelan indigenous leader Gardenia Warao, to ensure their perspectives were included in climate negotiations. This collaborative effort, amplified by UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Alfonso Herrera, exemplifies SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Herrera emphasized the necessity of including refugee voices in policy discussions, stating, “The voices of refugees have been silenced, and they must be heard.” He acknowledged Brazil’s receptive policies toward refugees as a positive model for international cooperation, contrasting it with more restrictive approaches elsewhere.

Conclusion: Integrating Human Mobility into Global Climate Action

Recommendations for a Human-Centric Approach

Climate-induced disasters, including floods, droughts, and storms, displace millions of people annually, threatening to render entire nations uninhabitable. Addressing climate mobility is therefore a matter of human dignity and justice, central to the SDG principle of “leaving no one behind.” The discussions at COP30 present a critical opportunity to translate advocacy into policy. Based on the input from the IOM, UNHCR, and displaced community representatives, the following recommendations are put forth:

1. Center climate mobility within National Adaptation Plans to ensure that SDG 13 strategies are inclusive and protect vulnerable populations.
2. Establish dedicated funding streams for loss and damage that directly support displaced communities, thereby addressing SDG 1 and SDG 10.
3. Promote and fund community-led solutions, such as local climate councils and disaster response brigades, to build resilience in line with SDG 11.
4. Strengthen international partnerships under SDG 17 to develop and implement policies that ensure safe, orderly, and dignified migration pathways for those displaced by climate change.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights several interconnected issues such as climate-induced displacement, refugee rights, international cooperation, and the need for resilient communities, which directly relate to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article focuses on the vulnerability of specific populations, such as refugees from Haiti and Ethiopia and indigenous communities. It addresses the inequality of climate impacts, as seen in Robert Montinard’s description of “climate injustice” and “environmental racism,” where poorer nations suffer disproportionately. The call to protect those who move and ensure they do so “with dignity” directly addresses the need to reduce inequalities faced by migrants and refugees.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The theme of making communities safe and resilient is central. The article mentions the need for safety for “people and communities who choose to stay.” Robert Montinard’s proposal for the “creation of municipal climate councils” and “community brigades to respond to disasters” are concrete actions aimed at building resilient communities capable of managing climate-related disasters, a key aspect of SDG 11.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  This is the core SDG addressed. The entire article revolves around the consequences of climate change, including floods, heatwaves, droughts, and storms that force millions to leave their homes. The central demand from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to “place climate mobility at the core of adaptation plans” and the call for “funding for loss and damage” are direct calls for urgent climate action.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article touches upon the need for justice and inclusive institutions. The call to fight “environmental racism” and the proposal to create “municipal climate councils” point to the need for inclusive and participatory decision-making. The work of the UNHCR in providing “legal support” to refugees and the demand that the “voices of refugees… must be heard” emphasize the importance of access to justice and building accountable institutions that protect the rights of all, especially the most vulnerable.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article exemplifies the importance of global partnerships. The discussion takes place at COP30, a global summit. It involves multiple UN agencies like the IOM and UNHCR working together, along with civil society representatives (Association Mawon), indigenous leaders, and Goodwill Ambassadors (Alfonso Herrera). Their collective call for negotiators to include human mobility in international funding and adaptation plans is a clear example of a multi-stakeholder partnership to achieve sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific actions and demands mentioned in the article, the following SDG targets can be identified:

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  • Target 10.7: Facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies. This is directly addressed by the IOM’s call for people who “decide to move” to “have the option to do so with dignity” and the overall theme of managing “climate mobility.”

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations. This is relevant to the discussion of disasters like the Haiti earthquake and hurricanes, and the proposal to create “community brigades to respond to disasters.”
  • Target 11.b: By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters. The proposal for “municipal climate councils” is a direct example of implementing plans for climate adaptation and resilience at a local level.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The central plea to include “human mobility in national adaptation plans” is a direct effort to strengthen adaptive capacity to the reality of climate displacement.
  • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning. The IOM’s push for negotiators at COP30 to make climate mobility a core part of plans is an example of advocating for this integration.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. The proposal for “municipal climate councils” and the demand that the “voices of refugees have been silenced, and they must be heard” are calls for more inclusive and participatory governance on climate issues.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several qualitative and quantitative indicators that could be used to measure progress:

• For SDG Target 13.1 and 13.2:

  An implied indicator is the number of countries that have included human mobility and climate displacement in their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). The IOM’s hope that COP30 will be a “turning point” for this inclusion suggests that tracking this number would be a key measure of success.

• For SDG Target 10.7:

  The article mentions that “millions of people to leave their homes every year” due to climate events. A direct indicator is the number of people displaced across borders and internally due to disasters. Progress towards this target would be measured by the implementation of policies that reduce this number or ensure the safe and dignified movement of those who are displaced.

• For SDG Target 11.5 and 11.b:

  A concrete indicator mentioned is the number of “municipal climate councils” and “community brigades to respond to disasters” created. These are specific, measurable initiatives proposed in the article to build local resilience.

• For SDG Target 16.7:

  A qualitative indicator is the level of inclusion of refugees, indigenous peoples, and displaced communities in climate policy-making processes, such as COP negotiations and the creation of national plans. The article emphasizes that their voices “must be heard,” implying that their active participation is a measure of progress towards inclusive institutions.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators’ to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: noticiasambientales.com