Events

In remembrance of two powerful cyclones that hit southeast Asia in May 2019 and May 2020 – climatic catastrophes that displaced millions of people overnight, UNESCO is organizing a Webinar to stimulate the global dialogue around the impact of climate change and climate displacement on the right to education.

This event is part of a broader initiative launched by UNESCO in 2020 to investigate the barriers to education posed by climate change, as well as climate-driven displacement given the increasing impact of climate change on human mobility.  

In 2019, 24.9 million people were internally displaced as a result of disasters (IDMC 2019). In 2020, the number jumped to 30.7 million. The catastrophic effects of climate change are no longer isolated emergencies but have become the new global norm - a reality that is only intensifying each year.  

While there is significant literature regarding the nexus between climate-induced displacement and other rights- such as the right to legal residency abroad, there is little to no information on the specific linkages between climate change, displacement and the right to education.  

The barriers to education faced by climate-displaced persons are affecting a larger portion of the global population each year. Indeed, those displaced by climate change are not limited to those displaced by disasters – which have occurred for centuries, although research shows that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of such disasters. Populations can be displaced due to loss of territory (sea-level rise); lack of food and water (desertification); and loss of livelihoods (drought and flooding destroying agriculture; coral bleaching impacting tourism). Therefore, to fully realise SDG 4 and protect and fulfil the right to education for all, it is critical to ensure this growing, but politically invisible, population can continue to access education, as well. 

In this context, and as part of UNESCO’s initiative launched in 2020 to investigate the impacts of climate change on the right to education, the objective of this webinar is to foster a global dialogue on the complexities of climate displacement and the barriers to education posed by climate change while bringing awareness of this rather novel phenomenon to policymakers and practitioners in order to, more specifically: 

• Gather insights from experts and critical actors from various regions studied to better understand specific challenges and trends;  
• Identify and discuss common as well as context-specific emerging challenges, as well as the varied and different patterns of displacement and barriers to education among the different regions; 
• Taking into account the existing lack of a single, comprehensive definition of “climate-displaced person,” explore whether and/or why having such a standardized and widely-accepted definition is politically, legally, and functionally important; 
• Brainstorm preliminary policy messages and key takeways to protect and fulfill the right to education in the face of climate-driven disruptions and displacement. 

The webinar will bring together representatives from various countries, international and national experts, UN agencies and international organisations, civil society representatives and a youth representative. 

The webinar will be held in English. 

Related Content

Useful Links

• Register
• Policy paper
• Right to education
• Concept Note

URL:

https://events.unesco.org/event?id=868175648