Journal of Science Policy & Governance
Volume 23, Issue 01 | October 23, 2023

Policy Brief: Climate Crisis Induced Migration: A Global Framework to Minimize and Manage Large-Scale Climate Refugees and Migrants

Bipin Kumar Badri Narayanan (1),(2)*, Megan L. Shipman(1),(3)*, Liam Foyle(1),(3)+, Kaitlin Kharas(1),(3)+, Bryn Livingston(1),(3)+, Nancy T. Li(1),(3)+, Maria Victoria Medeleanu(1),(3)+, Luna Taguchi(1),(3)+
  1. Toronto Science Policy Network, Toronto, ON, Canada 
  2.  University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada 
  3. University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada 

​*Equal contributions towards writing, research, and reviewing 
+Equal contributions towards research and reviewing 

​
Corresponding author: [email protected] ​​
Keywords: climate crisis; mitigation; adaptation; migration; immigration; refugees; migrants ​
https://doi.org/10.38126/JSPG230108 ​

Executive Summary

The ongoing climate crisis will force the migration of up to 1.2 billion people by 2050. Since climate displacement has already begun, having policies in place to mitigate predictable issues that will arise from mass migration and safeguard vulnerable populations is essential. We recommend assigning a special “climate refugee/migrant” status to ensure human rights protections for these refugees/migrants. We also propose preventative measures to help reduce climate-related immigration and essential measures to facilitate refugees adapting to new regions. Finally, we recommend strategies to implement a “Loss and Damage” fund for the developing countries most vulnerable to climate-related disasters. These policies address a critical gap in climate migration policy and could inform the upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP 28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dubai in November 2023.

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Background header image courtesy of The Nation
Bipin Kumar Badri Narayanan is a Master’s student studying Computer Science at the University of New Brunswick. He enjoys writing science policy memos and working in a team to develop evidence-based proposals on various topics such as AI, Privacy, Climate Change, Immigration, and Post-secondary education. Bipin Kumar has been the External Affairs Director at the Toronto Science Policy Network, a student group dedicated to engaging the community in the science-policy interface. He also works as a government relations coordinator at the University of Regina Students Union (URSU). He also volunteers with the Canadian Science Policy Centre(CSPC) and Support Our Science(SOS).

Megan Shipman has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and works as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto. She researches the impact of diet and inflammation on voluntary and automatic behavior. She is interested in utilizing science and current research to inform policy.

Liam Foyle is a Master's student in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto. A member of Elizabeth Edwards’ lab, Liam, focuses on the bioremediation of recalcitrant fluorinated pollutants named PFAs. Liam is interested in science outreach, communication, policy, and environmental issues.

Kaitlin Kharas is a Ph.D. candidate researching pediatric brain cancer biology at SickKids and the University of Toronto. She is strongly interested in evidence-informed decision-making, scientific literacy, and supporting graduate student education. She is the former Co-President of the Toronto Science Policy Network.
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Bryn Livingston is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto. She is studying recurrent mutations and their functions in pediatric brain cancer medulloblastoma. Bryn is a 2023-2024 Co-President of the Toronto Science Policy Network, a student group dedicated to engaging the community in the science-policy interface. She is also interested in science communication and is a volunteer presenter with the Canadian Cancer Society Research Information Outreach Team (RIOT). Bryn is exploring career options in science communication and writing.

Nancy T Li is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto. Nancy is a member of the McGuigan lab, and she is studying novel engineered tissue models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma for high-throughput and high-content investigation of disease progression, therapeutic resistance, and recurrence. Nancy is interested in scientific communication, outreach, and mentorship.

Maria Victoria Medeleanu is a Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Physiology (Respiratory Platform) at the University of Toronto and SickKids Hospital, studying how early-life exposures affect immune development and pediatric asthma. Maria is also deeply interested in public health policy and is receiving a Collaborative Specialization in Public Health Policy at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. She is the 2023 Co-president of TSPN, dedicated to developing a platform to engage in evidence-informed science policy.

​Luna Taguchi is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto. She is studying the evolution of infectious disease, with a particular interest in using mathematical models to understand how simultaneous infection of different pathogen strains can determine infection outcomes. She is interested in science communication and evidence-based public health policy.

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