Eastern Caribbean States Collaborate on Innovative Approaches to Tackle Climate-Induced Displacement and Environmental Migration

The Caribbean has been hit by increasingly severe weather events caused by climate change, while also being seismically active and volcanic.

Representatives will identify best practices to address cross border movements and work on protocols for cross-border evacuations of people affected by disasters in the OECS. The protocols will help guide governments in strategically building resilience, recognizing the conditions that threaten the survival, livelihood, and dignity of their citizens, particularly the most vulnerable, when they are forced to move.

The OECS' goal is to plan for the possibility of cross-border evacuations while ensuring more effective outcomes for the affected people. The human security approach goes beyond immediate responses and is prevention-oriented, analyzing the underlying causes of complex challenges and developing solutions that protect and empower the most vulnerable community members.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is set to host the workshop, in partnership with the donor, the UN Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS). Other contributing stakeholders include the UN Resident Coordinator Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Platform for Disaster Displacement (PDD) and the OECS Commission. 

As the region braces itself for the future effects of climate change, this workshop represents a crucial step towards safeguarding the well-being of the Eastern Caribbean's communities. The OECS' innovative and collaborative approach to addressing climate-induced displacement and environmental migration will be closely watched by experts and policymakers across the globe.

For information on the work of the IOM and its work in the Eastern Caribbean, call, text or WhatsApp (767) 275-3225 or malleyne@iom.int