Seminar: Climate change and migration: dealing with complexity (København)

In recent years, the links between climate change and migration have increasingly captured the attention of the global media, international organisations and national governments. Around the world, rising sea levels, changing weather patterns and natural disasters are predicted to affect human mobility.

However, while the connection between climate change and migration presented in global media may seem straightforward at first, the growing knowledge from research draws a complex picture. It suggests, for example, that climate change is only one of many factors influencing migration, that people make different decisions depending on their social circumstances, and that migration can be a sound way of adapting to climate change.

These research findings raise a number of questions for policy and practice, including Denmark’s strategy for foreign affairs and security, and strategy for development cooperation and humanitarian action.

The seminar will cover the following questions:

How can we address the complex relationship between climate change and migration in policy and practice?

What are the key priorities? In addition, how can we approach them in ways that support people’s own needs and rights?

What should Denmark actually do, at what level and with whom as collaborates?

Speakers

Sara Vigil, Research Fellow, the Hugo Observatory, University of Liége and the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS)

Sarah Kristine Johansen, Head of Advocacy, CARE Denmark

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark (speaker to be announced)

Ninna Nyberg Sørensen, Senior Researcher, DIIS

Mikkel Funder, Senior Researcher, DIIS

Programme

15.00-15.10: Introduction – Ninna Nyberg Sørensen

15.10-15.40: Climate change and migration in the Sahel: lessons for policy – Sara Vigil

15.40-16.00: How can Danish policies better reflect climate change and migration? – Sarah Kristine Johansen

16.00-16.15: Coffee break

16.15-16.30: Comments from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark – Speaker to be announced

16.30-16.40: Comments by discussant – Mikkel Funder

16.40-17.15: Q&A

Practical information

The seminar will be in English and live streamed on diis.dk.

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Please use our online registration form no later than Monday 4 December at 12.00 noon. Live stream does not require registration.

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