Over the past ten years, around 250 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to extreme weather events related to the climate crisis. This is according to a new report from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The report, No Exit II: The Path Forward, examines the impact of the climate crisis on migration and displacement, and was launched on the sidelines of the 30th UN Climate Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil.
The presentation featured UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and co-founder of climate change organization Mawon justice Robert Montinard.
The document defines the climate crisis as a “risk multiplier” that exacerbates already existing inequalities and social injustice. According to the authors, the climate crisis is also fueling conflict, violence and new waves of forced displacement both within and outside countries.
According to the report, floods, storms, droughts and heat waves not only lead to loss of food and water security, desertification and ecosystem destruction, but are also direct causes of conflict and forced migration.
Over a decade, the number of people who temporarily fled their homes due to climate change disasters reached 250 million with an average of 70 thousand people daily. In 2023 alone, this figure exceeded the ten-year average by 10%.
As of June 2025, 117 million people worldwide have been forced to flee their homes due to war and conflict, with 86 million of them living in countries with high climate risks.
The report also notes that refugee camps in Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda are suffering from heat and irregular rainfall, Jordan and Pakistan from high temperatures, and in Bangladesh from floods. Drought caused a state of emergency in Zambia, and devastating floods in Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and South Sudan. In 2024 alone, a third of all emergencies declared by UNHCR were caused by extreme weather events in areas where refugees live.
Filippo Grandi noted that the new report data was even more alarming than two years ago.
“Refugees, those forcibly displaced and those who have lost their homes are suffering the most from the climate crisis,” he said.
Grandi stressed, that in refugee areas there is no infrastructure to protect against extreme heat, which causes serious health problems.
Robert Montinard emphasized that climate finance plays a critical role in achieving climate justice.
“Even small amounts can make a huge difference. Everyone should have access to climate funds. I speak on behalf of those who cannot be heard today, because a just transition is impossible without the participation of those who suffer the most from the climate crisis,” said Montinar.