COP29 Concludes Amid Rising Weather-Related Displacements

As COP29 ends in Baku, Azerbaijan, stark realities underscore the growing challenges posed by climate change, including widespread weather-related displacement. Since 2008, a staggering 359 million weather-related displacements have been recorded worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for effective global action.

Alarming Statistics on Displacement

The 2024 Global Report on Internal Displacement reveals that:

• By the end of 2023, 6.6 million people were displaced due to weather-related disasters such as floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires.
• Multiple displacements raised the total forced movements to 20.3 million.
• An additional 1.1 million displacements occurred due to natural disasters unrelated to climate change, such as earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Most Affected Regions in 2023

1. Asia-Pacific:
   • China: 4.6 million displacements, the highest globally.
   • Philippines: 2.1 million displacements, driven by Typhoon Doksuri, which displaced over 1 million people.
2. Africa:
   • Somalia: 2 million displacements due to the worst floods in decades.
3. Global South:
   • Countries in Africa, Asia-Pacific, MENA, and Latin America saw five times more displacements relative to population compared to the Global North.

Causes of Displacement

Floods and storms dominate weather-related displacement events:

• Floods: 9.8 million displacements in 2023, a sixfold increase since 2015.
• Storms: 9.5 million displacements, a sevenfold rise over the same period.
• Other causes: Droughts (491,000), wildfires (435,000), and landslides (119,000).

The Injustice of Climate Displacement

Experts emphasize the disproportionate burden on the Global South, which contributes the least to global emissions but suffers the most:

• The Global South has the warmest regions and limited financial and technological resources to mitigate climate impacts.
• Conversely, 23 industrialized nations, primarily in Western Europe and North America, are responsible for 50% of all historical greenhouse gas emissions, despite housing a fraction of the world’s population.

COP’s Role and Criticism

Critics argue that COP commitments fall short in addressing displacement:

• Alice Baillit, a policy adviser at the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, calls for action on the root causes of displacement, including climate vulnerabilities, and the “losses and damages” it creates.
• Over 200 former leaders and climate experts have criticized the UN-led COP summits as “no longer fit for purpose,” urging a fundamental overhaul.
• Experts like Pushker Kharecha from Columbia University advocate for legally binding agreements and a global carbon pricing system to fairly penalize greenhouse gas emissions.

A Call for Stronger Action

With displacement numbers rising and weather-related disasters intensifying, the urgency for robust global cooperation, funding, and legally binding commitments is more critical than ever. COP29 may have concluded, but the path to meaningful climate action remains fraught with challenges and opportunities.