Children are disproportionately affected by climate change and man-made disasters, with around 500 million children living in areas with very high risk of flooding and nearly 160 million living in areas of extreme or high risk of drought. In fact, climate-related events have already contributed to over 50 million children being forced from their homes, migrating across borders or being displaced within their own countries. Yet, children have been almost entirely overlooked in the emerging debate, research and policies on climate-related migration and displacement. 
 
In this context, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) are jointly hosting a virtual symposium in order to better understand how children and young people are affected by climate-related migration and displacement and to enhance their visibility in the public policy discourse.
 
The symposium will: 

• Provide a platform for experts, policy makers, donors, country partners and young people to discuss and debate pertinent questions related to the climate-migration/displacement nexus. 
• Unpack key concepts and terms related to climate migration and displacement and discuss how climate induced migration and displacement may impact children’s and young people’s lives. Participants will be invited to consider and debate opportunities, as well as identify key challenges, for incorporating children’s and young people’s specific concerns into existing legal and policy frameworks on climate change, migration and refugees. 
• Propose a set of actions, outlining a future agenda for integrating children’s needs and rights into evolving policy discussions and future legal frameworks. 

The symposium will comprise a group of participants, representing UN and other development agencies, academics, experts, civil society, policymakers and practitioners as well as young climate and migration activists.

More information available: UNICEF and IOM Children and Youth, Migration, Environment and Climate Change.