Environmental Migration Portal

Migration in relation to climate change and environmental degradation has been gaining increasing prominence in the public and policy debates. The past few years have witnessed the emergence of a plethora of academic literature, policy discussions and forums as well as operational responses to a phenomenon that cuts across many different thematic and policy areas. However, new research, policy developments and information remain scattered.

In this context, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) established the Environmental Migration Portal: Knowledge Platform on People on the Move in a Changing Climate in 2015 within the “Migration, Environment and Climate Change: Evidence for Policy” (MECLEP) project funded by the European Union. Since the completion of the project in March 2017, the Portal’s maintenance is funded by IOM.

The Portal provides up-to-date information on key policy processes and developments, capacity building efforts, research and publications, and operational projects addressing the migration, environment and climate change (MECC) nexus. The Portal highlights IOM’s efforts, including with partners, as we work together towards addressing one of the biggest challenges of our times, migration in the context of environmental and climate change.

As an evolving online information and knowledge sharing platform, the Environmental Migration Portal  is a one-stop service website to promote new research, information exchange and dialogue, intended to fill the existing data, research and knowledge gaps on the migration, environment and climate change (MECC) nexus.

The Portal aims to:

• centralize relevant and up-to-date research, data, and information on migration, environment and climate change;
• provide information on recent activities of IOM, including with its partners, in addressing the migration, environment and climate change (MECC) nexus;
• communicate on the links between migration, environment and climate change and advocate for solutions for environmental migrants.

The target audiences for the Portal are:

• IOM Member States representatives
• United Nations practitioners, including IOM staff
• Media and communication outlets
• Academia and researchers 
• Private sector partners 
• General public sensitive to issues of migration governance, climate change action, environmental protection, disaster risk reduction, and human rights

For more information about the Portal, please contact:

Ileana Sinziana PUSCAS, Thematic Specialist Migration, Environment and Climate Change, Climate Action Division, IOM Geneva

Iulia DUCA, Programme Officer, Climate Action Division, IOM Geneva