Filippo Grandi The United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, is anticipating an expanded role for China in assisting forcibly displaced communities to enhance resilience and navigate climate threats, given the escalating impact of the global climate crisis on these groups, said the agency’s chief Filippo Grandi. In an exclusive interview with China Daily, he especially highlighted the UNHCR’s expectation of enhancing cooperation with China’s private sector, as it strives to strengthen the availability of sustainable energy for the most vulnerable. “Right across the world, UNHCR witnesses the impact of a changing climate every day. We see it affecting the lives of the most vulnerable people we work with, including refugees and other displaced communities, as well as on those who host them, and many of my colleagues experience it for themselves,” said Grandi. Of the more than 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, three-quarters live in countries heavily impacted by climate change, he said. That means 90 million people who have already fled harrowing situations of conflict and persecution are now exposed to new threats, often without much support to withstand or adapt to them. Quoting a recent report from the UNHCR that explores the intricate links between climate change, he stressed that “an already difficult situation is only going to get worse”. By 2040, the number of countries facing extreme climate-related hazards is expected to rise from three to 65, the vast majority of which host forcibly displaced people, he said. Similarly, most refugee settlements and camps are projected to experience twice as many days of dangerous heat by 2050. The climate emergency represents a deep injustice. People were forced to flee, and the communities hosting them, which are the least responsible for carbon emissions, yet are paying the highest price, said Grandi. The climate crisis manifests itself in […]
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