Climate Displacement Coalition

Friends of the Earth's Climate Justice campaign has launched a new alliance which aims to mobilise greater public support and government action around the growing problem of climate displacement.

The formation of the Climate Displacement Coalition was announced at the Pacific Calling for Climate Justice Conference in Sydney in October.

Around the world, hundreds of thousands of people are already being displaced by climate change. As climate instability grows these many thousands will become millions. Responding to such displacement will need varied and complex responses, including refocused development aid, resources for resettlement and new migration pathways to Australia and other countries.

While the many thousands of Pacific Islanders who will lose their homes because of the rising seas may be able to eventually resettle within the Pacific or Australia, the millions of people who will be displaced in Asia may not have such opportunities. For example, the loss of the Himalayan-Tibetan glaciers will see the seven giant Asian rivers lose much of their summer flows. Over one billion people live in the basins of these rivers.

Such a disaster can only be avoided by a global emergency effort to cut carbon pollution, but even with such action, millions will be displaced.

The Climate Displacement Coalition will seek to bring these problems into the Australian climate debate, creating cooperation and solidarity between communities in Australia whose "homelands" are affected by climate change and pushing for government action.

The objectives of coalition include commitments to:
* work for strong and urgent mitigation of carbon pollution in Australia to levels that can ensure a safe climate;
* campaign for the Australian government to allocate adequate resources to assist climate-affected communities to relocate and resettle;
* promote new migration pathways, for people facing climate displacement, particularly for Pacific Islanders;
* campaign for the government to establish a specific migration program and visa category for those displaced by climate change; and
* campaign for Australia to support a new international convention or protocol that will establish a framework for recognition and assistance for those displaced by climate change.

The Pacific Islands Forum will be held in Australia late next year and is an opportunity to ensure the Labor government acts on its commitments to the Pacific.

For more information or to join the the coalition, email <damien.lawson@foe.org.au> or phone +61 3 9419 8700.