Environmental and climate change can significantly impair or undercut the sources of livelihood of communities. For this reason, it is an increasingly important factor in human mobility (see Migration, environment and climate change). Certain elements of local economies are particularly vulnerable to climate change, and workers employed in those sectors are more likely to move in search of jobs. Jobs in agriculture – globally, the second largest sector of employment, following services – have been affected by a rising incidence of floods and droughts, changes in rainfall patterns and temperatures, degradation of soil and a rise in extreme weather. A major issue is the impact of weather changes on the availability of arable land and opportunities for irrigation. Many low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa, drylands in Central Asia and South America, as well as mountain regions elsewhere are also affected by droughts and water scarcity, with impacts on local agriculture and its workers (Foresight, 2011).
Tourism, which is a major source of employment for many coastal areas and small islands, especially in the Asia–Pacific and Caribbean regions, is already being negatively affected by rising sea levels. Some other segments of the hotel, catering and tourism sectors are likely to be adversely impacted by global warming; in particular, those around the skiing industry in the mountain regions which have experienced reduced snow cover, which has meant fewer tourists and consequently fewer jobs (Olsen, 2009). Nevertheless, there are also positive effects: changing environments can provide new opportunities for agriculture, due to softer climates or the availability of more arable land. These opportunities can attract labour, and as well offers the potential for livelihood diversification or job creation associated with the green economy.
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Source
IOM, 2006.
There are currently few frameworks available to support labour mobility in the context of environmental and climate change. Some countries have granted admission to foreign citizens displaced due to disasters, mainly granting temporary protection status to qualifying individuals. However, these instruments have had only limited scope for bringing about sustainable economic well-being, given that the purpose is merely to provide temporary protection status, rather than promoting migration as adaptation to climate change.
Access to employment is often subject to additional requirements (such as through work authorization, see Access to the national labour market). A restricted period of legal residence also renders economic integration difficult. Moreover, grounds for relocation are typically assessed individually, on a discretionary basis, making such programmes unsuitable for addressing large-scale migratory movements from areas affected by climate change, especially since that change is gradual and progressing slowly. Nevertheless, the international community has been discussing ways that mobility can reduce vulnerability to climate change, including through temporary labour migration. In addition to other global processes, the Global Compact for Migration calls for pathways to respond to slow onset environmental change, using current migration channels to absorb environmental migration as a coping strategy in the face of environmental pressure on livelihoods.
Good Practice
Colombian temporary and circular labour migration
Several areas in Colombia are severely affected by environmental and climate change in addition to a high poverty rate and alarming conflict and crime-related issues. To address this, an innovative programme was launched to promote temporary and circular labour migration between Colombia and Spain. Indeed, migration is often used as an adaptation strategy to prevent the loss of livelihood associated with environmental degradation. Temporary work abroad can provide an alternative for families facing natural disasters, particularly populations affected by eruptions of the Galeras Volcano in Nariño, Colombia. Institutional arrangements between the two countries were facilitated so that Colombian migrants and their families can access the Spanish labour markets while maximizing the impact of remittances on recovery efforts. Further, 162 women received training on leadership to bolster their capacity as potential agents of development, enabling local populations to increase their resilience to environmental challenges by offering them an alternative to permanent migration.
Source
Laczko and Aghazarm (eds), 2009.