Monthly Archives: January 2024

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Climate Refugees: The invisible crisis

By Despoina Moscholiou Syrigou
Climate change is emerging as a critical reality that has the potential to reshape the global social landscape through climate refugees. People are being uprooted from their homes due to climate change, causing mass population movements.
The term “climate refugees” describes people who are displaced from their homes due to climate phenomena. This can include floods, droughts, storms, sea level rise and other disasters caused by human-induced climate impacts.

Since 2008, more than 376 million people have been displaced by climate disasters. That’s the equivalent of one person being displaced every second, or as if the entire population of Australia is forced to leave their homes every year. In 2022 alone, 36.2 million people were displaced by natural disasters caused by climate change, and while many found shelter within their own country, others were forced to flee overseas. With the projected number of people affected set to double by 2050 according to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Since 1994, the international community has increasingly recognised the issue of international migration and its relationship with development. The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes several migration-related goals and calls for regular reviews of progress towards their achievement using data distinguished, inter alia, by their migration status. However, the response to this challenge is limited, and the protection of those affected remains inadequate. The lack of a legal definition of persons forced to move for climate reasons is particularly worrying, as they can easily find themselves in legal limbo due to the lack of recognition of their situation and their need for humanitarian protection.

Although the majority of climate-displaced people remain within their national borders (i.e. internally displaced), some are forced to move abroad and become externally displaced. However, as most available data focus on internally displaced persons, it is difficult to develop a clear picture of the scale of cross-border migration for climate-related reasons. This lack of accurate data prevents the implementation of an international legal framework to address this issue.

Climate change will continue to have a massive impact on many populations, particularly those in coastal and low-lying areas. Events such as these should serve as a serious reminder that climate disasters are not simply confined to the Global South, and that the impacts of large-scale disasters traditionally seen in developing countries, including displacement, are becoming an increasingly global phenomenon.

The insecurity caused by climate change has already begun to affect hundreds of millions of people around the world, with the winds of climate change crossing no borders. Frequent natural disasters, such as devastating storms, floods and temperatures that are rarely accounted for, have forced people to flee their homes, in some cases permanently. The effects are often devastating, with the need for humanitarian assistance becoming increasingly urgent.

In early 2023, Storm Daniel in Libya caused the death of over 12,000 people, while 40,000 people were forced to flee their homes. In the summer of 2023, temperatures in the Mediterranean and the US reached historic highs, while flooding in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy killed 14 people and forced 50,000 to flee their homes. Also in 2022, floods in Pakistan forced over 10 million people to flee their homes, while the Horn of Africa experienced its worst drought in 40 years, leading to widespread starvation and migration.

These events are just a few examples of the multiple natural disasters that have been recorded in different parts of the world. And although most of those displaced stay within the borders of their countries, the increasing intensity of climate change is making some areas uninhabitable for return. This leads to an ever-worsening reality where people are forced to seek refuge in other regions or countries, sometimes without legal protection or recognition of their status as climate refugees. The need for action is immediate as humanity faces the challenge of climate-induced displacement across borders and within their own countries.

In response to the growing challenge of climate-induced displacement, our consultancy firm is well-equipped to provide essential services. We specialize in conducting climate vulnerability assessments and developing adaptive strategies for private and public organizations. Recognizing the importance of accurate data, we actively collaborate with stakeholders to address the gaps in defining and protecting organizations affected by climate change. Our consultancy also offers guidance on sustainable development practices, fostering resilience in organizations and communities.

Portfolio

Βauxite residue valorisation: a conference turned virtual

Consultancy services cover a wide range of activities, often beyond those related to the environment. GREEN2SUSTAIN, in addition to environmental and sustainability consultancy services, provides related services in fields, such as scientific conferences organisation  and events.

For this project, GREEN2SUSTAIN, was involved in the design of an international conference on the utilization of bauxite residue and related best practices. Our services were divided into three phases. The first phase included the development of the media identity and the conference website, while at the same time gathering all the necessary information to inform the public about the objectives of the conference.

The second phase involved the creation of a system for the submission, evaluation and final approval on the various
articles submitted by the candidate delegates. This information was managed through a dedicated application linked to a website, and the organisers could be informed at any time of the status of the articles. The third phase involved setting up and overseeing multiple mechanisms for registration and conference admission payments. These mechanisms included various payment methods (remittances, credit and debit cards) and invoicing.

Part of the services provided by GREEN2SUSTAIN in the framework of this project included designing relevant communication material before, during and after the completion of the conference, as well as its management in terms of venue selection, and schedule preparation. Owing to the developments resulting from the  COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of the conference, regarding both participation and attendance, took place virtually, via the Internet.

Serving the organizer’s aspirations and constantly taking into account the budget and the theme of the conference, as well as the unprecendented developments related to the pandemic, GREEN2SUSTAIN, took all the necessary steps for the successful completion of the conference, which was concluded in the autumn of 2020.

Team

Batziaki Penny

Political and International Studies Scientist, Panteion University, holding the International MSc “Sustainable Tourism Development: Heritage, Environment, Society”, focusing on social sustainability and smart solutions for the sustainable development of tourism destinations. Participates in studies on sustainable tourism and the environment, as well as in the company’s business development.

Team

Karavatsou Freideriki

Biologist & Biodiversity Consultant. Holds a BSc in Biology & MSc in Bioinformatics – Computational Biology, with special knowledge in protected area management. She works on Environmental Impact Assessments, Fieldwork, Special Ecological Assessments, Carrying Capacity issues, and has experience in Environmental Monitoring – Compliance Programmes.

Team

Deligianni Danai

Office Manager – Holds a Degree in Management Support (support à l’action managériale), Ecoles-Vidal Toulouse with particular knowledge in Human Resources Management. Working on the management of the secretariat, the call centre and the accounting department.

Team

Stefanakou Maria

Under-graduate Student of the Department of Chemical Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens, with a specialization in Environmental Engineering and Water Resources Management. Specialized in environmental data processing and analysis. Involved in environmental impact and carrying capacity assessment, as well as in strategic environmental impact studies.

Team

Doulami Alkistis

Holds a Master’s degree in Catalysis & Protection of the Environment. She is active in a variety of environmental fields and has experience both in laboratory analyses and specialised field work. She is involved in Environmental Impact Assessments, Strategic Environmental Impact Assessments and Special Ecological Assessments, amongst other studies.

Team

Liapi Georgina

Graduate of the Department of Oceanography and Marine Biosciences, with an MSc in Environmental Technologies in Environmental Law. She specialises in marine ecosystems, environmental data processing and fieldwork. She holds an Advanced level scuba diving diploma and works on strategic environmental impact assessments and environmental policy issues.

Team

Myloneli Vaia (Vana)

Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering, with a specialty in marine ecosystems, as well as a Master’s degree in Oceanography and Management of the Marine Environment. She specialises in marine ecosystems and biodiversity studies, with a focus on protected areas management. She is active in Carbon Footprint Assessments and is involved in studies regarding climate sustainability and environmental sustainability advancement.