Despite growing awareness of the links between climate change and modern slavery, much work is needed to make sure that modern slavery is included in crucial climate change discussions. Our Climate Change Manager, Chiara Soletti, attended recent UN negotiations to collaborate with and support civil society groups to make sure that key provisions on human rights are included in the new “Loss and Damage Fund”.
As the details about the structure and scope of the Fund have not yet been agreed, these discussions were focused on directing the Fund to best respond to the losses and damages caused by climate impacts. To address modern slavery risks in the context of climate change, we need to make sure that human rights protections that improve protections for migrants and prevent risks of forced labour and trafficking are integrated into the Fund’s framework.
What is loss and damage and why is it important?
What do we mean by "loss and damage"?
“Loss and damage means different things to different groups and there is no agreed upon definition of loss and damage within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). However, loss and damage can generally be understood as the negative impacts of climate change that occur despite, or in the absence of, mitigation and adaptation.” Dr Adele Thomas, lead author of the IPCC’s 2022 report on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, and the Special Report on 1.5°C. - Loss and damage: A moral imperative to act
When we talk about loss and damage caused by climate change, we mean the negative impacts of climate change that are not fully avoidable through mitigation (preventing and reducing emissions) and adaptation efforts (actions that help reduce people’s and the planet’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change). At COP27 in Egypt in 2022, negotiators agreed to create a fund that would help countries particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. This became a reality at COP28 in the United Arab Emirates in 2023 where the Loss and Damage Fund was launched.
As the focus areas of the Fund have not yet been decided, we, as human rights advocates, want to make sure that migration, human mobility and the risks of modern slavery are central to the responses to climate-induced loss and damage. Without this, we will be leaving people increasingly vulnerable to the combined risks of climate change and modern slavery.
What do we mean by "human mobility"?
Human mobility is the technical term used in UN spaces to refer to migration, displacement and planned relocation. Human mobility is one of the consequences of loss and damages caused by climate impacts, and it is currently one of the key topics discussed in the Glasgow Dialogue on Loss and Damage, the platform in which the funding arrangements for loss and damage are discussed. Mapping Human Mobility (Migration, Displacement and Planned Relocation) and Climate Change in International Processes, Policies and Legal Frameworks International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Loss and damage and human mobility
When people experience the negative impacts of climate change, they may be displaced or forced to migrate. This exposes them to much greater risks of human trafficking and forced labour. Decision-makers and policymakers must adopt combined loss and damage measures to address the risks of human rights violations in the context of human mobility and climate change. This should include support to populations forcibly displaced, the development of resilient infrastructure, and the introduction of laws that facilitate safe and dignified migration.
In Mozambique, following Cyclone Idai in 2019, a holistic approach was crucial for recovery and resilience. The response to this climate emergency combined rebuilding infrastructure, like schools and healthcare facilities, with community-based adaptation programmes that trained local people in climate-resilient farming techniques. Policies also facilitated people to migrate safely to less affected areas and made sure that the people who were displaced had access to employment and education. The comprehensive response to Cyclone Idai not only addressed immediate safety needs but also ensured economic stability and long-term resilience. This example highlights the success of using interconnected strategies to address loss and damage and prevent people from facing further vulnerabilities.
Human mobility has been discussed within the UNFCCC for many years. It is increasingly recognised as a critical issue. The launch of the Loss and Damage Fund in 2022 gave the opportunity to centre mobility and migrants’ rights in UN climate talks.
By linking human mobility with loss and damage, key stakeholders (e.g. countries and intergovernmental organisations) and civil society aim to ensure that the responses are comprehensive and effectively address the risks posed to people due to climate change. However, there are still risks that countries, driven by different political national agendas, will not prioritise holistic responses. We need more action to make sure that countries tackle these challenges together.
What happened at the most recent discussions – the Third Glasgow Dialogue – on Loss and Damage?
There were many positive developments at the Third Glasgow Dialogue, the platform in which loss and damage is discussed. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Human Rights and Climate Change Working Group (an informal coalition of NGOs working on human rights and climate change), and country representatives came together to stress the importance of including provisions for human rights when addressing loss and damage.
Additionally, these groups stressed the importance of enabling the most affected groups and communities to guide this process. To make sure that governments and international institutional institutions such as the UN introduce appropriate responses to human mobility risks – such as human trafficking and forced labour – the Loss and Damage Fund must be rooted in human rights principles.
Civil society and government representatives working on human mobility engaged with the process, with various groups calling for increased action:
- The Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre called for accounting for displacement impacts in Loss and Damage evaluations and to not overlook “the suffering of people”.
- The International Organization for Migration and the Platform on Disaster Displacement, alongside various countries (e.g., Fiji and Palau), called for greater financial investment in the Loss and Damage Fund to support solutions for human mobility. The current climate finance initiatives (e.g., Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund) have failed to dedicate significant funds to address human mobility.
- Various civil society organisations called for increasing the ambition of funding for the Loss and Damage Fund, which was echoed by several countries, including Fiji, Palau, and Vanuatu. These countries—mostly island states—outlined their need for support in tackling the human mobility and immobility issues they are already facing.
The Third Glasgow Dialogue should enhance coherence and coordination across the loss and damage architecture and establish the role of the funding arrangements in this context. At the end of this session in Bonn, there was still no agreed direction regarding governance and funding ambition. Without alignment and political will, the climate breakdown will continue to have an untold impact on people all around the world.
What do we want to see next?
Looking ahead to COP29, Anti-Slavery International aims to continue its engagement with civil society groups and organisations working to protect the human rights of communities and groups. This includes migrants and individuals at risk of modern slavery who have been made vulnerable by the loss and damage caused by climate change.
Our goal is to influence the governments present at COP29 to integrate human rights-based approaches into climate policies and the Loss and Damage Fund. Strengthening partnerships with other civil society organisations will amplify our collective voice, ensuring that policy discussions prioritise the protection of vulnerable communities affected by climate change. It is crucial that climate resilience strategies include specific measures to prevent modern slavery, and we will highlight successful grassroots initiatives as models for broader implementation.
If you’re interested in the impacts of climate change and modern slavery, please share this blog on LinkedIn or X. And if you’re planning to be at COP29, please get in touch with our team.