Climate change and migration 2012, para. 37

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Paragraph text: Other societal factors are also significant, including for groups that are marginalized or excluded or that experience discrimination, such as minority communities or indigenous peoples. Those communities often live in fragile environments which are more directly affected by climate change. Moreover, due to poverty, groups are often in a weaker position in terms of their ability to anticipate and respond to environmental change resulting in the paradox where the most vulnerable individuals and communities are often those least able to migrate. At the same time, owing to their often limited ability to participate in political life, those groups are often overlooked by the authorities when relief measures are being developed and delivered, or they face serious protection concerns when measures are developed and have a negative impact on them, thus compounding their vulnerability. Another concern is that of secondary impacts, where, as a result of climate change, affected persons are relocated to minority areas or indigenous lands, without adequate consultation or respect for their rights. The Special Rapporteur thus emphasizes the need to ensure that all groups are adequately considered in the context of responding to climate-change-induced migration, with particular attention paid to those who are most vulnerable, including ensuring their active political and technical participation in the development of responses.

Topic(s)

Person(s) affected