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Lost in the coverage of the refugee/migration-related executive orders is how the Biden-Harris administration is laying the groundwork for something truly transformational.
A thread.
A thread.
The specific Executive Order in question is entitled "Executive Order on Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs to Resettle Refugees and Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration" https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/02/04/executive-order-on-rebuilding-and-enhancing-programs-to-resettle-refugees-and-planning-for-the-impact-of-climate-change-on-migration/
"Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration"
For as long as I've been looking at these issues, climate scientists and human mobility experts have largely worked in parallel. Which is why Trevor from @rhodium_group and I teamed up to write this https://www.csis.org/analysis/new-framework-us-leadership-climate-migration
For as long as I've been looking at these issues, climate scientists and human mobility experts have largely worked in parallel. Which is why Trevor from @rhodium_group and I teamed up to write this https://www.csis.org/analysis/new-framework-us-leadership-climate-migration
But back to the EO.
Sec. 6 calls for "a report on climate change and its impact on migration, including forced migration, internal displacement, and planned relocation." It then lays out some notional areas of focus: int'l security, mitigation, protection, resettlement, etc.
Sec. 6 calls for "a report on climate change and its impact on migration, including forced migration, internal displacement, and planned relocation." It then lays out some notional areas of focus: int'l security, mitigation, protection, resettlement, etc.
Sec. 6 is really important and whomever from @WHNSC @StateDept @USAID @DHSgov @USUN @ODNIgov is tasked with writing this report has a clear opportunity for truly transformational U.S. global leadership.
You see, people forced from home for reasons tied closely to climate change have limited legal and institutional recourse. In the U.S. Anywhere. With U.S. leadership, this could start to change.
But first the interagency report will have to talk about the impact of climate.
But first the interagency report will have to talk about the impact of climate.
We talked about impacts of climate change in terms of temporary (hurricanes, flooding, drought, wildfires), permanent (sea level rise e.g. in Jakarta, human heat thresholds, agriculture tipping points), and indirect (increased risk of conflict).
With the exception of those displaced by conflict (e.g. refugees), climate migrants in pretty much all the other categories fall through the cracks. For those who live in places with few social safety nets and little resilience to external shocks this can be devastating.
See: hurricanes Eta and Iota and the devastation reigned upon Central America. They would've been bad anywhere. In a region pummeled by climate change, it was worse and forced people to make incredibly difficult decisions during a global pandemic. https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/01/29/blocked-migrant-caravan-leaves-thousands-trapped-hurricane-hit-honduras/
We called for "a new framework for dealing with climate migration, one that the US, given the right set of political circumstances, should be able to lead." The report commissioned in Sec. 6 tells me that the right set of political circumstances exists. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/02/04/executive-order-on-rebuilding-and-enhancing-programs-to-resettle-refugees-and-planning-for-the-impact-of-climate-change-on-migration/
So... here's what I think should be included based on our research.
1. Reduce drivers by reducing emissions and investing in climate resilience.
2. Accommodate climate migrants via a "Climate TPS" program and a targeted resettlement program, both of which are guided by science.
1. Reduce drivers by reducing emissions and investing in climate resilience.
2. Accommodate climate migrants via a "Climate TPS" program and a targeted resettlement program, both of which are guided by science.
3. (and this is where the "truly transformational" bit comes in) Lead the strengthening of international frameworks. Rejoining Paris was great, now strengthen it to include a migration lens. Rejoin the global compacts and do the same. And think big, for example by
championing a regional compact (e.g. in the Western Hemisphere) on permanent cross-border displacement.
Be wary of backdoor efforts to question other types of support for refugees, asylees, etc but don't hide behind that fear.
Be bold. Think big. Truly transformational.
Be wary of backdoor efforts to question other types of support for refugees, asylees, etc but don't hide behind that fear.
Be bold. Think big. Truly transformational.
For more, here's another plug for our @CSIS @CSIS_PPD @CSISEnergy @rhodium_group policy brief. https://www.csis.org/analysis/new-framework-us-leadership-climate-migration
