On the frontlines of climate change: Migration in the Pacific Islands

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  • 2015•11•27     Paris

    Who: Dr. Koko Warner, Senior Expert, United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)

    The Right Honorable Enele Sosene Sopoaga, Prime Minister of Tuvalu (TBC)

    What: UNU-EHS Press briefing

    When: Wednesday, 2 December at 10:30 am

    Where: Press Conference Room 2 at the Le Bourget conference venue

    Livestream link: http://unfccc6.meta-fusion.com/cop21/channels/press-room-2

    Why:

    The Pacific Islands include some of the most vulnerable countries in the world, where people are already experiencing devastating climate change impacts, such as higher intensity storms, sea level rise, saltwater intrusion and drought. United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) have undertaken the first nationally representative household survey ever conducted on climate change and migration in the Pacific. The survey covered 6,852 individuals representing 852 households in Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu1. The survey found that more than 70% of households in Kiribati and Tuvalu and 35% of households in Nauru reported family members would migrate if climate stressors, such as droughts, sea-level rise or floods worsened. Only about a quarter of households in those countries have the financial means to migrate, which may leave many “trapped” in worsening environmental conditions. The press briefings will present the research findings in full detail.

    For more information contact:

    From UNU:

    Sijia Yi (in Paris)

    Media Associate

    United Nations University

    Institute for Environment and Human Security

    Tel +33 780 716 575

    Email: yi@vie.unu.edu

    Twitter: @sijia_yi

    From UNESCAP:

    Debbie Singh

    Communications Specialist

    United Nations ESCAP

    Pacific Office

    Tel + 679-994-3678

    Email: singh162@un.org

    Download the media advisory.