The topics of migration and refugees are polarizing and the subject of emotional debate, not just since this year's National Council elections. However, public discourse predominantly focuses on how to address migration and displacement within the EU after they have already occurred. The root causes of flight and migration are often overlooked, meaning that combating them is rarely prioritized as a political goal. One thing is clear: no one voluntarily leaves their home, family, and friends without significant reason. But why do people feel compelled to flee, and what responsibility does the EU bear? With this event, we aim to close this gap in the discourse by examining the effects of EU climate and trade policies. The climate crisis, in particular, will play an increasingly important role in the refugee debate in the future and is already a significant factor today.
In light of the UN Climate Change Conference taking place from 11 to 22 November 2024 in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, the VIDC, the ÖGB, and the AK are addressing the topic of ‘Climate change as a cause of displacement.’ Historically, Europe and the Global North have been the main contributors to the climate crisis, while Africa's contribution is just 3%. Nevertheless, the effects of the climate crisis in the Global South, particularly in Africa, are devastating. Furthermore, the measures implemented as part of the EU's green transition are also significantly impacting the Global South, and the EU's trade policies have long been criticized for their detrimental effects on these regions.
In 2023, 117 million people were displaced, and the World Bank estimates that there will be 143 million climate refugees by 2050. The loss of livelihoods is forcing many to flee, often within their own countries or regions. This raises important questions: What expectations do international and Austrian experts have for the UN Climate Conference COP 29 in November 2024 in Baku? What are the underlying reasons for displacement, and which policies contribute to it? What does the EU need to do to address the causes of displacement rather than simply dealing with refugees? What might a global Just Transition look like, and who needs to be involved?
Podium
Rebecca Abongo
is a Program Program for Coordinator Climate Change and Just Transition at the Central Organization of Trade Unions in Kenya (COTU-K). As an environmental management specialist, she contributes meaningfully to climate change adaptation and mitigation, environmental resource management, just transition, poverty eradication, and gender equality. Rebecca holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Pwani University (Kenya) and a Master’s degree in Climate Change and Adaptation from the University of Nairobi. She has gained extensive experience in program management through her work with both international and local partners, which has enhanced her skills in leadership, problem-solving, communication, computer literacy, and research.
Ayla Bonfiglio
is the Head of the Mixed Migration Centre for Eastern and Southern Africa, Egypt, and Yemen. From 2019 to 2022, she served as the Head of MMC’s North Africa hub. With 15 years of experience working on issues related to forced migration and mobility, her doctoral research at Maastricht University focused on how refugees and migrants make strategic decisions about their movements in relation to higher education. In this role, she conducted several hundred in-depth interviews with refugees and migrants in Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda. She holds an MSc in Forced Migration from the University of Oxford and a BA in Political Science from Columbia University, where she was awarded the Charles Beard Prize for her dissertation on refugee self-reliance. She has worked and conducted research in various countries across North and Sub-Saharan Africa for a range of organizations, including GIZ, ICMPD, IOM, UNESCO, UNODC, and UNHCR.
Francesca O'Brien
is a climate activist and spokesperson for the ‘People's Summit against European Gas Conference’. She is active in the climate justice movement and campaigns for a fair and democratic energy transition.
Gracia Ndona
works as a freelance journalist for the Süddeutsche Zeitung and as a freelance presenter. She holds a bachelor's degree from the Vienna University of Economics and Business. Along with friends, she co-founded the association Afrikanische Diaspora Österreich (ADOE), which now has over 200 members. ADOE aims to highlight the diversity within the Black community and provide a platform for networking. Gracia Ndona, in collaboration with the ADOE team, has developed various initiatives, including interactive panel discussions with prominent figures from the African diaspora, the Africa Quiz Night, and the event "ADOE Presents: Loving Black."