Climate Change and Migration: Blue Ribbon Panel Recommendations to the Biden Administration
On July 14, Refugees International hosted a presentation and discussion of a Blue-Ribbon Task Force report on Climate Change and Migration, to be issue by a distinguished group of former senior government and United Nations officials, non-governmental leaders, and scholars.
The report of the Task Force comes in response to a February 4 Executive Order that directs National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan to deliver a report to the President within 180 days that includes “options for protection and resettlement of individuals displaced directly or indirectly from climate change” as well as options for policy measures on a range of related objectives.
At least tens of millions of people will be displaced over the next two to three decades due in large measure to disaster and other environmental changes affected by climate, and those at risk need policy solutions today. From Asia and Africa to Latin America and the Middle East, disasters affected by climate change are leading to protracted displacement, and those displaced by disaster are deprived of critical support. The United States has a special responsibility to lead—and while projections of climate-related migration are sobering, they are not beyond the capacity of governments and international community to address effectively and humanely.
Host
Eric P. Schwartz, President, Refugees International
Speakers
Alex de Sherbinin, Senior Research Scientist and Associate Director for Science Applications, Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), The Earth Institute, Columbia University
Elizabeth Ferris, Research Professor, Institute for the Study of International Migration, Georgetown University
Kayly Ober, Senior Advocate and Climate Displacement Program Manager, Refugees International
Richard Santos, President and CEO, Church World Service
MEMBERS OF THE EXPERT TASK FORCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND MIGRATION
Nisha Agarwal
Deputy Executive Director, International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)
T. Alexander Aleinikoff
Director, Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility, The New School
Former UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees
Former General Counsel, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), Department of Justice
J. Brian Atwood
Visiting Scholar Watson Institute, Brown University
Former Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development
Former Under Secretary of State
Reuben Brigety
Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of the South
Former U.S. Representative to the African Union
Permanent U.S. Representative to the United Nations Economic Commission of Africa
Elizabeth Ferris (co-chair)
Research Professor, Institute for the Study of International Migration, Georgetown University
Expert Advisory Group Member, United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement
Lauren Herzer Risi
Director, Environmental Change and Security Program, Wilson Center
Mark Hetfield
President and CEO, HIAS (founded as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society)
Rev. Mary Katherine Morn
President and CEO, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Kayly Ober
Senior Advocate and Program Manager, Climate Displacement Program, Refugees International
Maria Otero
Former Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights
Former Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs
Former President and CEO, ACCION International
Anne C. Richard
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration
Former Director, Secretary of State’s Office of Resources, Plans and Policy
Richard Santos
President and CEO, Church World Service
Alex de Sherbinin
Senior Research Scientist and Associate Director for Science Applications, Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), The Earth Institute, Columbia University
Eric P. Schwartz (co-chair)
President, Refugees International
Former Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration
Maureen White
Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy Institute, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University
Former Senior Advisor on Humanitarian Issues, Office of the Special Representation to Afghanistan and Pakistan