Climate, migration, and displacement: Migrant, refugee, and displaced-inclusive approaches to local climate adaptation

This peer learning note documents the meaningful exchanges and discussions that took place during the peer learning process organized on July 4-5, 2023 by UCLG as part of the Mayors Mechanism Call to Local Action for Migrants and Refugees (co-steered by UCLG, Mayors Migration Council (MMC), IOM with UNHCR) in partnership with Welcoming International and the Global Covenant of Mayors on Climate and Energy, which gathered the interest of about 180 participants from over 55 countries. Local and regional governments facing increasing climate migration and displacement are at the forefront of developing broader rights-based approaches to ensure these newcomers’ right to work and inclusion.

Key lessons and recommendations include:

• Integrate human mobility into climate action plans - Local governments can holistically embed human mobility considerations into their climate action plans. Concurrently, climate adaptation plans could also consider long-term and quality housing access to migrant and displaced communities, alongside climate and energy efficiency upgrades for sustainable housing.
• Champion political will and inclusivity - Local leaders play a crucial role in advocating for the rights of migrants and refugees and creating a welcoming environment for new arrivals. 
• Enhance data collection and research - To address the challenge of limited localized and disaggregated data on arriving migrants, local governments must invest in data collection and research.