The environment has always been a driver of migration, as people flee to survive natural disasters or, faced with harsh and deteriorating environmental conditions, move to seek opportunities elsewhere. Climate change is expected to exacerbate sudden- and slow-onset disasters and gradual environmental degradation.

This information sheet summarizes IOM’s institutional and conceptual framework as regards environmentally-induced migration and provides an overview of IOM’s principal operational, policy and research activities undertaken to manage and respond to the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation  and their impacts on human mobility.