Report Release - Planet on the move: Reimagining conservation at the intersection of migration, environmental change and conflict
In June 2024, the IUCN's CEESP Task Force on Migration, Environmental Change, and Conflict released the report "Planet on the move: Reimagining conservation at the intersection of migration, environmental change and conflict;" it warns that up to 700 million people could be displaced by 2050, while advocating for integrated approaches to conservation and sustainable development to mitigate these challenges.
In June 2024, the IUCN’s Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy (CEESP) Task Force on Migration, Environmental Change, and Conflict unveiled its report, Planet on the Move: Reimagining Conservation at the Intersection of Migration, Environmental Change, and Conflict. The report was launched during the third Environmental Peacebuilding Conference at The Hague, to a diverse audience of practitioners, academics, and thought leaders in the field of environmental peacebuilding.
The report underscores the alarming displacement of humans and wildlife caused by environmental degradation, projecting that between 50 to 700 million people could be affected by 2050. It delves into the intricate relationships among migration, environmental change, and conflict, emphasizing that these movements can serve as both consequences and catalysts for these pressing issues.
Originating from the inaugural Environmental Peacebuilding Conference in 2019, the Task Force comprises a global coalition of multidisciplinary practitioners linked to migration. The report's editors—Elaine Hsiao, Richard Matthew, Phillipe Le Billon, and Galeo Saintz —bring diverse expertise to the table, striving to unite various disciplines and stakeholders involved in migration, conservation, development, humanitarian efforts, legal frameworks, conflict-sensitive strategies, and environmental peacebuilding.
A critical finding of the report is the historical role of certain conservation practices in displacing local communities and wildlife, further complicating the crisis.To mitigate these challenges, it advocates for holistic approaches that integrate diverse data sources and local knowledge. Environmental peacebuilding and sustainable development must be concurrently promoted to address the multifaceted impacts of migration across its various stages.
The report serves as a call to action, aiming to inspire innovative policies and funding to address the expected rise in migration linked to environmental factors and conflict. The document emphasizes that while migration can contribute to ecosystem health and resilience, it can also result in significant stress and harm, particularly when it is forced.
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