CLOSING REMARKS: TOWARD A CLIMATE MIGRATION SOLUTION

In a speech delivered as a closing remarks at Case Western Reserve University's 2023 Cox International Law Center Conference, Fragomen and Morowitz address the urgent issue of human mobility and climate change, specifically focusing on immigration solutions and frameworks for those displaced by climate change. The increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, rising temperatures, and other climate hazards are leading to the displacement of millions of people each year. However, there is currently no comprehensive approach to address climate migration. They argue for the development of wider-ranging, longer-term solutions that incorporate migration as an essential part of climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts. They propose the establishment of legal pathways for climate migrants, including work authorization, housing, healthcare, and family reunification. They also highlight the importance of labor migration in responding to climate change, as migrants can fill skills gaps and contribute to the green economy.