Unpacking Climate Migration

What about climate refugees?

As global temperatures rise, right-wing parties in the West are gaining influence, driven by calls for stricter migration policies and border controls. Those currently seeking asylum are already confronted with Europe’s deadly borders. But what about climate refugees? They are not recognised under the UN Refugee Convention and therefore have no legal basis to seek asylum in Europe.

How exactly are climate change and migration related?

Meanwhile, it is widely estimated that climate change will displace up to 216 million people by 2050, with headlines warning that migration could become the greatest climate challenge of our time. While this alarmist narrative dominates the media, it oversimplifies the much more complex and diverse relationship between climate change and migration. Where does this dominant narrative come from and what are its implications? How exactly are climate change and migration related? How does the representation of climate refugees relate to racism and neo-colonialism? And how will continued climate impacts affect global migration in the future? This evening aims to look beyond the mainstream narrative and delve deeper into the complex reality of climate migration. To expose the facts, debunk the myths and explore possible future scenarios in the current political climate, that is the aim of this evening.