STUDY NOVEMBER 2012 | CLIMATE The State of International Organization for Migration (IOM) Environmental Migration 2011 Edited by François Gemenne (IDDRI) Pauline Brücker (IDDRI) Dina Ionesco (IOM) US/Mexico Morocco/Spain China Japan Bangladesh Colombia Thailand Somalia Sudden disasters Slow-onset events Institut du développement durable et des relations internationales 27, rue Saint-Guillaume www.iddri.org 75337 Paris cedex 07 France © 2012 Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) / International Organization for Migration (IOM) Disclaimer – IDDRI As a foundation of public utility, IDDRI encour- ages reproduction and communication of its copy- righted materials to the public, with proper credit (bibliographical reference and/or corresponding URL), for personal, corporate or public policy research, or educational purposes. However, IDDRI’s copyrighted materials are not for commer- cial use or dissemination (print or electronic). 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The State of Environmental Migration 2011 Edited by François Gemenne (IDDRI) Pauline Brücker (IDDRI) Dina Ionesco (IOM) FOREWORDS 4 INTRODUCTION 7 PART 1 SUDDEN DISASTERS ENVIRONMENT AND MIGRATION: THE 2011 FLOODS IN THAILAND 13 TEMPORARY AND CIRCULAR LABOR MIGRATION BETWEEN SPAIN AND COLOMBIA 25 THE 11 MARCH TRIPLE DISASTER IN JAPAN 35 THE 2011 SOUTH CHINA FLOODS - DROUGHT, THREE GORGES DAM AND MIGRATION 47 FLOODS IN BANGLADESH AND MIGRATION TO INDIA 57 PART 2 SLOW-ONSET EVENTS DROUGHT IN SOMALIA: A MIGRATION CRISIS 75 DROUGHT AND MEXICO-US MIGRATION 91 THE MODEL OF ALMERIA: TEMPORARY MIGRATION PROGRAMS AS A SOLUTION FOR ENVIRONMENTALLY-INDUCED MIGRATION? 107 GLOSSARY 124 EDITORS AND CONTRIBUTORS 127 IDDRI IDÉES POUR LE DÉBAT 05/2011 3 The State of Environmental Migration 2011 FOREWORD BY WILLIAM LACY SWING Director General, International Organization for Migration (IOM) he impacts of environmental degradation change. Their views should therefore not be seen and climate change on human mobility are as expressions of IOM’s or IDDRI’s policy positions Tcomplex and often long-lasting. People may but as the outcomes of their independent research migrate, for instance, because of environmental activities. degradation as such, or because environmental The studies in this publication offer both fresh degradation has led to the loss of their livelihood. analysis and novel solutions on migration in the In some cases, people have no choice but to move. context of natural disasters. They cover a wide In other situations, people choose to move. Then variety of situations, including, for instance, pro- again, some who wish to move may not have the posed infrastructure and public works projects to means to do so. The State of Environmental Mi- enhance resilience to flooding in Bangkok, Thai- gration shows the complexity of migration in the land; an examination of the efficacy of circular context of environmental degradation and cli- migration policies enacted in response to flooding mate change and calls attention to environmental in Colombia; and an analysis of policy responses migrants by offering insights on climate-related to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. These events of the year 2011, their migratory impacts, articles offer concrete assessments of current and the policies and programmes that were devel- shortcomings in policies related to disaster risk oped in response. reduction and steps that can be taken to enhance The working relationship between the Interna- preparedness and response capacity. Other papers tional Organization for Migration (IOM) and the examine potential approaches to mitigating slow- Institute for Sustainable Development and Inter- onset climate change in countries such as Spain national Relations (IDDRI) and, via IDDRI, Paris and Mexico, highlighting the severe humanitarian School of International Affairs at Sciences Po, is consequences resulting from a type of climatic dis- based on a shared vision that well-managed mi- aster that is too often overlooked. While each pa- gration can be an effective climate change adapta- per addresses a specific situation, they all empha- tion strategy, an innovative response that empow- size how migration policy can be used as a tool to ers migrants and strengthens communities. This manage the pressing needs of vulnerable commu- new edition of The State of Environmental Migra- nities to adapt to disparate environmental hazards. tion marks the second consecutive year that these As the threat of climate and environmental organisations have worked together to present an change continues to present challenges to com- overview of current issues in the field of climate munities and policy makers alike, IOM trusts that change and migration. The volume brings to light the second edition of The State of Environmental recent research conducted by students on the Migration will be a useful resource for both policy topic of migration, the environment and climate makers and the general public. ❚ 4 STUDY 06/2011 IDDRI The State of Environmental Migration 2011 FOREWORD BY LAURENCE TUBIANA Director, Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) © Peter Allan / Interlinks Image ajor forces of change, including climate most significant situations that took place in 2011. change, are already at play in natural and It is thanks to this new generation’s expertise, ded- Mhuman environments across the world. ication and contributions that we have ensured a Environmental degradation has measurable im- broad, global perspective on how to confront and pacts on migration and presents humanity with overcome these current challenges and events. unprecedented challenges. The diversity of these I am particularly grateful to IOM’s strong com- challenges argues for a new strategic approach to- mitment to making The State of Environmental Mi- wards policy development. Failing to incorporate gration an annual publication. The collaborative migration within the policy discourse could seri- partnership between IOM and IDDRI present an ously undermine potential alternative livelihood excellent opportunity to raise public awareness of strategies. the complex nature of environmental migration, Incorporating the voices of tomorrow within the facilitate policy discourse, and share knowledge current policy discourse is an important step in de- and insights concerning the links between migra- veloping strong future leadership needed to tackle tion and climate change. I am also most grateful these difficult challenges. So with this new edition to Sciences Po’s School of International and Public of The State of Environmental Migration, it is my Affairs (PSIA) for supporting this important initia- pleasure to present our yearly qualitative assess- tive and for contributing to the success of this edi- ment of the changing dynamics of environmental tion of The State of Environmental Migration, and migration based on a collection of student research look forward to those that will follow in the forth- papers and case studies documenting some of the coming years. ❚ IDDRI STUDY 06/2012 5 The State of Environmental Migration 2011 INTRODUCTION François Gemenne, Pauline Brücker and Dina Ionesco While scientific research on environmental migra- Internal Displacement Monitoring Center (IDMC), tion has considerably expended over recent years, 14.9 million people were internally displaced in The State of Environmental Migration once again 2011 throughout the world due to natural disasters, gathers and documents major cases of environ- mostly related to weather events such as floods mentally-induced migration and displacement and storms. 89% of the displacement occurred in that happened during the year 2011. It is meant to feed scholar studies and eventually political Asia.3 The IDMC Report also shows that China had discussions. The existence itself of this volume the highest number of people newly displaced, underscores the importance of the subject, but also with a total of 4.5 million people displaced by ten the complexity of the phenomenon. As we stressed events, including floods, storms and earthquakes last year in the 2010 edition of The State of Envi- throughout the year. ronmental Migration,