The Impact of Environmental Drivers and Climate Change on Migration Trends and Protection Needs in Ethiopia

The abundant natural resources of Ethiopia are increasingly being affected by the interconnected factors of population pressure, agricultural expansion, rapid urbanization, resettlement, climate change and environmental pollution. Over the past four decades, environmentalists have observed more frequent extreme rainfall patters and temperature increases across the country – in 2022, Ethiopia experienced one of the most severe droughts of the last 40 years. At the same time, more than 70 per cent of the national population is employed in the agricultural sector, making Ethiopia among countries that are the most vulnerable to climate variability. Through primary data collection and secondary data analysis, this report explores the impacts of climate change on mobility trends in Ethiopia, identifies the strengths and gaps in legal and political frameworks for responding the needs of people on the move in the context of climate change, and provides evidence-based recommendations to build an action plan to address migrants’ needs.