From Haiti to Ethiopia: Voices of Climate Displacement at COP30
At the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) is urging negotiators to prioritize climate mobility in adaptation plans. IOM's Deputy Director General, Ugochi Daniels, emphasizes the importance of ensuring the safety of those who choose to stay and the dignity of those who decide to move.
In 80 countries, IOM's projects empower local communities to take charge of their solutions. Daniels hopes that COP30 will mark a turning point, elevating human mobility as a critical aspect of climate action, especially in national adaptation plans and funding for loss and damage.
The personal story of Robert Montinard from Haiti illustrates the devastating impact of climate change. The 2010 earthquake, lasting just 10 seconds, shattered lives for generations, prompting him to flee to Brazil as a refugee. Today, he leads the Mawon Association, supporting others in their rebuilding efforts.
Montinard insists on the importance of giving refugee voices a platform at COP30. He believes that migrants and refugees, who are affected by climate change's consequences, possess valuable solutions. His proposal, presented to Brazil's First Lady and Environment Minister, calls for municipal climate councils, action against environmental racism, and community brigades to address disasters.
Montinard refers to Haiti's plight as 'climate injustice,' highlighting the stark contrast between the swift rebuilding efforts in the US and the lingering destruction in Haiti from the 2010 earthquake. Similarly, Makebib Tadesse from Ethiopia observes a similar pattern, where climate pressures exacerbate conflicts over land and resources, leading to a continuous cycle of violence and displacement.
In northern Ethiopia, where Tadesse was born, the impact of climate change rivals or surpasses the devastation caused by the civil war from 1974 to 1991. He emphasizes that climate change is forcing people out of Ethiopia in unprecedented ways.
Robert Montinard and Makebib Tadesse, along with Venezuelan Indigenous leader Gardenia Warao, are part of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) delegation at COP30. Alfonso Herrera, a Mexican actor and Latin America Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, advocates for the voices of refugees to be heard, having witnessed the human cost of climate displacement across the region.
Herrera commends Brazil's openness to welcoming refugees, especially in contrast to the attitudes of many other countries. As COP30 discusses adaptation strategies for a changing planet, displaced people remind the world that climate action is not solely about saving ecosystems but also about safeguarding lives, preserving dignity, and ensuring that no one is left behind by the rising tide.
