THE ISSUES OF CLIMATE DISPLACEMENT

Asia is the region being most affected by environmental displacement, but the phenomenon affects all regions of the globe. This displacement has many consequences:

• Severe economic loss, with property damage and insurance constantly increasing. The cost of global warming would be in the range of 0.2% to 2% of GDP by 2050;
• Legal issues, with a lack of official legal status for displaced populations;
• Logistical problems for displaced populations which are often deprived of basic resources (like accommodation, food, water, and electricity);
• Human, psychological, and social issues, including the challenges and traumas related to people being uprooted from their homes.

A COLLABORATION WITH AIRBNB

Earth Day Canada and Airbnb are partners that build solutions to foster human resilience to climate issues and environmental emergencies. By allowing people to stay in people’s homes rather than in hotels, Airbnb already supports responsible tourism through low-impact stays. So it is quite natural that there is a convergence between Earth Day Canada and Airbnb to find innovative solutions to climate issues.

We are all faced with unexpected situations. For millions of people, this means leaving their homes. We know that a strong and growing demand for accommodation is to be expected due to climate migration. As proposed by Airbnb, a network of hosts contributes to create a world where everyone feels at home everywhere!

By following this link and becoming an Airbnb host, you can help finance the Observatory. Airbnb will provide Earth Day Canada funding for each new registration from this link.

CONCRETE RESULTS

Once a year, the Observatory’s research will allow the publication of an analytical report. Accessible to all, this report will synthesize existing information on climate-caused displacement and migration. Thus, this analysis will enable civil society actors to devise solutions to foster human resilience in the face of climate issues and emergency situations. Given the scale of this issue, it is certain that part of the solution will be material initiatives led by ordinary people at a local level.