Global Perspectives | Conference | Dezember 9 - 10, 2020

Climate Change and Migration: Point of No Return?!

An African Perspective

Last year alone, 24.9 million displacements were recorded due to natural disasters. Drought, floods and other developments are destroying livelihoods in many places around the world. Africa is particularly affected by these climatic changes. Now, the corona pandemic is acting as an additional accelerator.

In a digital conference we analysed the situation, trends and forecasts for sub-Saharan Africa: What needs to be done to reduce the effects of climate change for people, how to strengthen their resilience? Aiming at putting attention on the needs of migrants as well as the people left behind, we discussed efforts in Africa and Europe’s agenda in the cooperation with Africa in order to support an exchange for a holistic and humanitarian strategy on climate change induced migration.

Many high-level speakers with outstanding expertise from politics, academia, business and civil society had their say:

Wednesday, 09.12.2020 | 11:00 – 12:30 pm (CET)

Intro Trailer (Deutsche Welle)

Welcome by the organisers and partners: Global Perspectives Initiative, Robert Bosch Stiftung, Stiftung Mercator und Open Society Foundations

Keynotes

Panel 1 FACTS AND FIGURES Climate Change Induced Migration in Africa

Guiding Input:

Panel:

Wednesday, 09.12.2020 | 4:00 – 5:30 pm (CET)

Panel 2 HOTSPOT AFRICA How to Manage Climate Change Induced Migration on the Continent?

Keynote:

Panel:

Thursday, 10.12.2020 | 2:30 – 4:00 pm (CET)

Panel 3 COOPERATION Global Responsibility and the Cooperation with Africa

Keynote:

Panel:

Comment:

Closing Remarks

Moderation

Speakers:

Kamal Amakrane, Special Advisor for Strategic Partnerships supporting UNs advancement of digital innovation for achieving the SDGs, USA
Alexandra Bilak, Director of the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (iDMC), Geneva/Switzerland
Nathalie Delapalme, CEO Mo Ibrahim Foundation
Amira Mohammed Elfadil, Commissioner for Social Affairs African Union
Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Djibouti/Djibouti
Ambassador Dr. Christoph Heusgen, Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations, New York/U.S.A.
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, President of the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AFPAT), N’Djamena/Chad
Dina Ionesco, Head of the Migration, Environment and Climate Change Division, International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Geneva/Switzerland
Amina Chawahir Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary for Sport, Heritage and Culture in Kenya, former Deputy Executive Director of the UN Environment Program
Michelle Müntefering, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, Berlin/Germany
Kumi Naidoo, Social, Economic and Environmental Justice Activist, former Executive Director of Greenpeace International and former Amnesty International Secretary General, South Africa
Dr Kanta Kumari Rigaud, Lead Environmental Specialist and Regional Climate Change Coordinator, World Bank Group
Claudia Roth, Vice President of the German Parliament, B90/The Greens
Yvonne Aki Sawyerr, Mayor of Freetown, Leadership Board of the Mayors Migration Council (MMC), Freetown/Sierra Leone
Jutta Urpilainen, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Brussels/Belgium
Dr Kandeh Yumkella, Member of Parliament Sierra Leone, former United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All