Wed Nov 13 06:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Climate Change Fuels Refugee Crisis, Doubling Displaced People to 120 Million
**Baku, Azerbaijan** – A new United Nations report released at the COP29 climate summit reveals a stark reality: climate change is exacerbating the global refugee crisis, pushing the number of displaced people to a staggering 120 million. This represents a doubling of the number displaced over the past decade.
The report, issued by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), highlights the interconnectedness of climate hazards and conflict. Three-quarters of the world’s displaced population live in countries severely impacted by climate change.
The report specifically cites examples like Sudan, where over 700,000 people fled to neighboring Chad due to war. Chad, already burdened with hosting refugees for years, is highly vulnerable to climate change, leaving those who remain in Sudan facing further displacement due to floods.
“For the world’s most vulnerable people, climate change is a harsh reality that profoundly affects their lives,” stated UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. “The climate crisis is driving displacement in regions already hosting large numbers of people uprooted by conflict and insecurity, compounding their plight and leaving them with nowhere safe to go.”
Grace Dorong, a climate activist and former refugee from South Sudan, echoed this concern, stating, “In our region, where so many people have been displaced for so many years, we see the effects of climate change before our very eyes.”
The report urges world leaders to address the growing crisis, warning that if left unchecked, forced displacement will only worsen. It calls for increased climate finance, particularly for developing countries, to help them adapt to climate change and mitigate its impacts.
The COP29 summit, taking place in Azerbaijan, comes at a critical juncture as 2024 is set to break temperature records. Delegates are grappling with the urgent need for climate action and the allocation of resources to help vulnerable nations. The recent election of Donald Trump in the US has added a layer of urgency, as his administration’s stance on climate change remains uncertain.
UN Special Representative on Sustainable Energy Damilola Ogunbiyi stressed the importance of climate finance, stating, “We have a record-breaking year of investments in clean renewable energy. However, only 15 percent of that goes to the Global South.” This disparity underscores the need for increased global support to help developing countries adapt to climate change and build resilience in the face of growing displacement.
First Piper 