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land systems. 5 The 2030 Agenda further calls for international cooperation to achieve
sustainable development and contains references to orderly, safe, regular and
responsible migration, as well as to climate change.
24. There are also many policy processes and instruments that address important
aspects of climate change. For example, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk
Reduction 2015–2030 contains references to climate change-related migration. This
instrument focuses on reducing disaster risks, strengthening disaster risk governance
and enhancing disaster preparedness, especially for people in vulnerable situations. It
further includes guiding principles that call for the promotion and protection of all
human rights and the development of coherent policies covering climate change,
disaster risk reduction and sustainable development agendas.
25. In the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants of 2016 (General
Assembly resolution 71/1), Heads of State and Government and High Representatives
recognize the interconnection between migration, environment and climate change
issues. They further recognize climate change as a driver of migration, address the
issue of migration in response to environmental degradation and climate change and
call for the creation and expansion of safe, regular pathways for migration. This
recognition was considered a pivotal step towards migration policymaking processes
to address climate and environmental migration challenges.
26. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration contains specific
commitments to address the drivers that compel people to le ave their countries of
origin in the context of disasters, climate change and environmental degradation, and
to protect and assist those who leave their countries in such contexts (General
Assembly resolution 73/195, annex). In objective 5 on enhancing availability and
flexibility of pathways for regular migration, further details are provided on the
commitment to cooperating to identify, develop and strengthen solutions for migrants
compelled to leave their countries of origin owing to slow-onset natural disasters, the
adverse effects of climate change, and environmental degradation. It is the first
intergovernmentally negotiated agreement on international migration in which the
linkages between migration and climate change, disasters and environmental
degradation are recognized.
27. On the occasion of the first International Migration Review Forum, States
adopted the Progress Declaration (General Assembly resolution 76/266, annex), one
of the commitments of which centred on efforts to enhance and diversify the
availability of pathways for safe, orderly and regular migration for migrants in
vulnerable situations, as well as those affected by disasters, clima te change and
environmental degradation. The need to conclude labour mobility agreements,
optimize education opportunities, facilitate access to procedures for family
reunification and regularize migrants in an irregular situation, in accordance with
national laws, was further highlighted.
28. The Nansen Initiative, a State-led, multi-stakeholder, consultative process,
specifically addressed cross-border migration in the context of natural disasters and
climate change. Through its Agenda for the Protection of Cross-Border Displaced
Persons in the Context of Disasters and Climate Change, endorsed by 109 States, the
Initiative calls for the integration of human rights-based approaches in disaster risk
reduction, adaptation measures and sustainable development efforts. It further calls
for well-managed human mobility, including the broadened application of
humanitarian protection measures and the use of planned relocation as a last resort
(A/HRC/38/21, para. 35).
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See https://environmentalmigration.iom.int/migration-environment-and-climate-changesustainable-development-goals.
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