Kampala, Uganda – The Republic of Uganda, with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), is organizing a high-level meeting with representatives of the G77 and China, including Lead Coordinators and Sub-Group Chairs. As the largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries in the UN, the G77 and China enable countries of the Global South to articulate and advance their collective economic interests. This upcoming meeting scheduled for 14-16 October 2024 in Kampala, Uganda, will include discussions on integrating migration into the global climate change agenda ahead of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Baku, Azerbaijan.

COP 29 will be a critical platform for assessing global progress in combating climate change and establishing priorities for sustainable action. This meeting in Kampala comes at a pivotal time, as the intersection of migration and climate change is increasingly recognized as a priority, yet it remains underrepresented in critical UNFCCC processes. The discussions in Kampala aim to ensure that migration, displacement, and planned relocation are fully integrated into the COP 29 agenda.

By February 2024, 85% of National Adaptation Plans submitted to the UNFCCC had referenced some form of human mobility, illustrating the urgency of including migration and displacement in climate adaptation negotiations. The meeting builds on earlier discussions during the 60th session of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB60) in Bonn, Germany, where the G77 and China emphasized the need for enhanced support for climate adaptation, with human mobility as a key focus.

"This meeting will allow the G77 and China to explore the intersections of migration, climate change, and sustainable development, and chart a path forward for COP 29 that prioritizes the needs of vulnerable and mobile populations," said Bob Natifu from Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment.

Governments have made significant strides in addressing the impacts of climate change on human mobility. In 2023, 33 African countries signed the historic Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change (KDMECC), a landmark commitment to addressing climate-induced migration. Similar commitments were made through the Pacific Climate Mobility Framework and the Eastern Caribbean Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change. These milestones highlight the growing resolve of governments to not only tackle climate-induced displacement but also explore opportunities for climate-resilient migration solutions.

IOM has been at the forefront of addressing the migration-climate nexus for over three decades. "We are proud to support Uganda's leadership as Chair of the G77 and China," said Frantz Celestin, IOM’s Regional Director for East, Horn, and Southern Africa. "As global negotiations intensify ahead of COP 29, this meeting represents a vital opportunity for G77 and China members to ensure that climate-induced migration and displacement are prioritized, leading to meaningful, actionable outcomes for those most affected by climate change."

Now is the time to recognize the growing impact of climate change on migration and take decisive action to ensure that climate migration is fully integrated into global climate policies, benefiting those most vulnerable to the worsening climate crisis.  

For more information please contact: 

In Nairobi: Yvonne Ndege, yndege@iom.int

In Uganda: Richard M Kavuma, rmkavuma@iom.int