Transcript Walter Kaelin_Nansen Intro_Khulna_April2015

Climate Change, Disasters and Human
Mobility in South Asia and Indian
Ocean: The Nansen Initiative
Prof. Walter Kälin, Envoy of the
Chairmanship of the Nansen Initiative
Khulna, 2 April 2015
The Nansen Initiative is primarily funded by the governments of Norway and Switzerland. The Initiative also benefits from generous funding from the European Commission and Germany .
Displacement 2008 – 2013:
Sudden-onset disasters (IDMC)
45
40
35
30
25
Geophysical
20
Weather
15
10
5
0
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
IPCC Fifth Assessment
Summary for Policymakers
“Climate change is projected to increase displacement of
people (medium evidence, high agreement). Populations
that lack the resources for planned migration experience
higher exposure to extreme weather events, particularly
in developing countries with low income. Climate change
can indirectly increase risks of violent conflicts by
amplifying well-documented drivers of these conflicts
such as poverty and economic shocks (medium
confidence).” (1 November 2014)
BACKGROUND
SITUATIONS
- Sudden-onset disaster
- Slow-onset disaster
- Loss of state territory
- Prohibited areas
- Conflict
CHALLENGES
- Humanitarian
- Human rights
- CC adaptation
- Development
- Security
Key Gaps
• Knowledge gaps: Lack of comprehensive data
• Legal gaps: International (cross-border displacement),
regional & domestic levels
• Conceptual gaps: Criteria to distinguish displacement
from voluntary migration (particularly slow-onset)
• Institutional gaps: Unclear mandates of agencies;
lack of structures for cross-border cooperation
• Financial gaps: Funding gaps, particularly for durable
solutions
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THE NANSEN INITIATIVE
• Background: UNFCCC Cancun Adaptation
Framework, para. 14(f): “Measures to enhance
understanding, coordination and cooperation with
regard to climate change induced displacement,
migration and planned relocation ….”
• Launched October 2012.
– Steering Group: Norway, Switzerland, Australia,
Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Germany, Kenya, Mexico,
Philippines (UNHCR & IOM as standing invitees).
– Group of friends: Chaired by Morocco and EU
– Consultative Committee
Goal
Not to draft a convention or soft-law instrument.
But to build consensus bottom-up among interested
governments:
– On key principles and elements regarding the
protection of persons displaced in the context of
disasters;
– That sets the agenda for future action at domestic,
regional and international levels;
– That will trigger/feed into formal process at domestic,
regional and international levels
A bottom up approach to build consensus
among interested governments
Global
dialogue
Consolidated
knowledge
Regional
consultations
Protection
agenda
Follow-up
Lessons learnt
1. Population movements are multi-causal: displacement
“in the context of disasters”
2. Dynamics are mainly regional, vary from region to
region, and call for regional responses
3. Lack of preparedness: Need to integrate population
movements into NAPs, DRR strategies, etc.
4. Need for comprehensive approach (“toolkit”)
5. Need for an institutional “home” for a topic without such
home that facilitates dialogue and linkages between
“silos” for a cross-cutting issue
Envisaged Outcomes
1. Protection Agenda: (i) A set of common understandings
outlining shared analysis, assumptions and principles
regarding cross-border mobility in the context of disasters,
including the effects of climate change. (ii) An accompanying
set of effective practices drawing on the actual, practical
experience of Governments. (iii) An action plan for domestic,
regional and global levels.
2. Framing key messages and feeding them into relevant
processes at global and regional levels.
3. An institutional home/arrangement for the issue at the
global level
THE TOOLBOX
• Climate change mitigation
• Climate Change adaptation and disaster risk
reduction, taking into account human mobility (e.g.
internal relocation; building resilience of communities
on the move as well as host communities)
• Migration as adaptation: Temporary/circular/permanent
• Protection of internally displaced persons
• Planned cross-border relocation;
• (Temporary) cross-border admission for the displaced,
linked to durable solutions
Relevant processes
Global:
• Post-Hyogo Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction
(Sendai March 2015)
• Climate Change negotiations (Warsaw Mechanism on
loss & damage work-plan action area 6; Paris 2015
agreement?)
• World Humanitarian Summit (Istanbul 2016);
• (Sustainable Development Goals? – UN SG synthesis
report December 2014)
Relevant Processes …
Regional:
• Cartagena+30 Declaration and Action Plan (Brasilia
Dec. 2014)
• RCM/Puebla Process Workshop on harmonization of
“humanitarian visa” (San José Feb. 2015)
• Strategy for Climate and Disaster Resilient
Development in the Pacific (SRDP; draft 2014)
• Regional resilience strategies (e.g. IGAD)
• Etc.
Thank you for your attention
www.nanseninitiative.org
The Nansen Initiative is primarily funded by the governments of Norway and Switzerland. The Initiative also benefits from generous funding from the European
Union.
The European Commission is the EU’s executive body. “The European Union is made up of 27 Member States who have decided to gradually link
together their know-how, resources and destinies. Together, during a period of enlargement of 50 years, they have built a zone of stability,
democracy and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The European Union is
committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders”.