Madrid, 6 December, 2019 …In the last 10-20 years, more than a third of the Marshallese have moved abroad, mostly to the United States. “Marshallese cite many reasons for moving abroad, predominantly work, healthcare, and education,” said Dr. Kees van der Geest, a senior migration expert at UNU-EHS. “Climate change is a big concern to them, but is not yet seen as a reason to move.”

However, a new study by van der Geest, together with colleagues from the University of Hawaii, does show a correlation between climate impacts and migration rates at the household level: Those who experience more severe climate stress, especially drought and heat, also have higher migration rates….

On October 2nd  2017, the Marshall Islanders Migration Project is hosting a climate change forum with Marshallese community groups currently residing in Hawaii. In response to many Marshallese feeling excluded from climate/migration debate, the Climate Forum is a community-led knowledge exchange around the impact of environmental change on the Marshall Islands.

Parallel to COP 23, DIE hosted the Interconnections Zone from 6 to 17 November 2017. The Zone’s objective was to continue the dialogue of trade-offs and synergies between the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which kicked off earlier this year at the Interconnections Conference. Conveniently located between the Bula and Bonn Zones, DIE offered a space for discussions, which was easily accessible to politicians, scientists, practitioners and members of the civil society.

From 6 to 17 November 6th to17th 2017 Fiji and Germany organized the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the  United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Team lead Kees van der Geest presented preliminary findings at the conference in Bonn (Germany). COP23's main objective was to achieve progress in implementing the Paris Agreement, which was negotiated two years earlier, and which took effect last year. Signatory countries agreed to limit global warming to 2 degrees CelsiusCelcius compared to above pre-industrial levels and make strong efforts to keep warming down to 1.5 degrees. 

William S. Richardson School of Law Environmental Law Program Speaker Series with Juno Fitzpatrick & Maxine Burkett: What is the role of climate change and ecosystem services in the migration decisions of Marshallese Islanders? 

New perspectives on regional approaches to climate-induced migration, displacement, and relocation.