From displaced Syrians suffering with conflict and drought, and herders in the Sahel facing unprecedented scarcity of pasture, to millions escaping extreme weather in coastal areas impacted by cyclones or hurricanes, or those at risk of losing the very land they live on in parts of the Pacific, climate change is compounding protection risks and driving displacement. There is also growing evidence of the relationship between climate change and conflict in some contexts. While climate change is impacting communities everywhere, resilience and the ability to stay safe are not the same for all. Without protective actions, women, children, persons with disability, the elderly and other minority groups are left behind risking displacement, trafficking, and economic hardship.
As protection actors we must see ourselves as front and center in terms of understanding how climate change and disasters are shaping the realities of those we work with, and the related responses needed to strengthen rights and advance solutions in accordance with international law. In 2022 following consultations with Field Protection Clusters the GPC developed Guidance and an associated toolkit to help field level practitioners consider the issues faced and respond appropriately.
In this session key issues and good practice/experiences related to climate change and protection will be highlighted and described and the GPC Guidance and Toolkit will be introduced.
