Climate Change Will Trigger a Migration Crisis

Against the Racist and Against the Liberal Response to Migration

By Robert Shields

There is no doubt climate change is the defining issue of our time. In the backdrop of war and political corruption, climate change is wreaking havoc on the human race throughout the world. The impact of climate change will have devastating consequences on us all but especially those living in the most vulnerable parts of the world.

What is not being talked about enough is the consequences on human life as a result of climate change.

2021 was tied for the 6th hottest year on record with 2018. Even with the slow down of travel with the pandemic, our global temperatures did not slow. In California, an early heat wave in this Spring of 2022 broke records throughout the Golden state with some cities reaching 100s before Easter arrived. Europe was ravaged by a heatwave that killed over 1,900 people and saw London reach the hottest day they have ever recorded. The Mayor of Seville, Spain decided to implement a hurricane-like naming system for these heat waves. The first one being called, “Zoe.”

When talking about climate change, we often hear about droughts, heat waves, and rising sea levels. What is not being talked about enough is the consequences on human life as a result of climate change. In a world that is much hotter and facing less fresh water in many parts of the world, this will deliver a blow to the amount of habitable places and ability to grow food.

Bangladesh is already feeling the effects of climate change as growing crops has been difficult and the increase in cyclones has displaced tens of thousands of people. Two-thirds of the country live within 15 feet of sea level making millions of people vulnerable to climate change. These events have already started the migration of thousands of people within the country to seek safer areas.

The Great Migration Crisis

For socialists, we should be aware of the start of this great migration crisis that has been forced upon us by climate change. Sea levels will rise as much as 10 to 12 inches by 2030 according to a newly published report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the US. According to the World Bank, it is estimated that by 2050, 200 million climate refugees will leave their home. How governments and political parties will respond to this crisis will be very important to watch.

The long awaited IPCC climate report was released in February 2022, noted that most of the migration will be within national borders. People will seek safer areas in their own countries and seek to go outside those borders as a last resort. This is important to highlight because some countries could use climate migration as a reason to heightened xenophobia and deter migration to other countries.

While migration to other countries will be on the rise in the near future, internal migration will be the primary way of travel. In the United States, people have already begun migrating due to the devastating wildfires on the west coast and the many hurricanes that hit the gulf coast. The megadrought in the Southwest has not pushed people to move just yet but this could be inevitable.

According to those interviewed in a Wired article, it is estimated as much as 50 million Americans will migrate by 2050 within the US alone to move from these vulnerable areas. Most will seek the New England area and Midwest as safe havens. The San Francisco Examiner stated, “Between $8 billion and $10 billion of existing property in California is likely to be underwater by 2050, with an additional $6 billion to $10 billion at risk during high tide.”

A Socialist Response

In preparation for the upcoming migration crisis throughout the world, socialists must intervene. The consequences for so many people moving within and outside borders will be difficult. The people who will be impacted the most will primarily be poor, have few resources, and be people of color.

Poor people are driven into other places to compete with people there for affordable housing and jobs.

People will be forced to leave their homes without being able to sell them. For the people who do own homes, they will find they no longer have value. Miami, Florida is projected to lose $33 billion alone in home value by 2100 and over $300 million by 2033, according to GOBankingrates. With these losses also come huge losses in jobs and economic stability.

As a result of climate change, the US will face one of the largest internal migrations of humans and see the largest loss of housing it has ever faced. This will create massive poverty and social problems for millions. Working families and people of color will face issues at disproportionate levels.

Migration out of poverty, out of wars or out of the climate crisis causes huge challenges: Poor or newly impoverished people are forced to leave their homes and are driven into other places, either domestically or in other countries to compete with the poorest people there for affordable housing, for jobs, and for social services. In a situation where all over the US – one of the richest countries on this planet – a lack of affordable housing, of good paying jobs, of affordable health care and decent social services is plaguing so many working-class people, the starting point of dealing with additional needs of refugees and migrants needs to be taken seriously.

Pro-capitalist politicians, media and parties have two responses: there is a liberal one – “welcoming” refugees and immigrants to allow them to settle – and then leave them and the previous population on their own, let them drive down wages, compete with non-refugee working-class people to drive down living standards (and with that the expenses for wages and other public services that might be financed by taxes on the rich or on corporations).

The other, Trumpian response is an anti-immigrant, racist stance to direct the anger of marginalized and poor communities against migrants who allegedly take away the scarce resources.

Make the Rich and the Corporations Pay

As socialists, we reject both. Relocating millions of people is an economical, logistical and social challenge. The question is how this is done and who will pay for it. It is urgent to fight now for affordable housing, unionized jobs, for Medicare for All and social security for all, paid for by the rich and the large corporations.

The consequences of climate change and these upcoming migrations are the blame solely of the billionaire class and unchecked capitalism. Corporations and energy companies continue to burn fossil fuels that emit these temperature raising gasses in the air for their profits. Under capitalism, profits are put before the health of us and the planet. They force upon consumers an endless need for growth and consumption all while emitting dangerous pollutants into our environment.

With midterm elections on the horizon, Biden and the Democrats have worked out a deal on climate action in the Inflation Reduction Act. When passed, it will give tax breaks in every sector dealing energy including greener electricity, electric vehicle tax credits, and money to develop cleaner technologies. While this is better than what we have had under the previous status quo, we have to be clear this still puts the power of our climate in the hands of corporations who are seeking to make billions off green technology.

Bolder action will be needed to curb our current emissions. We need to support the millions of people who are already dealing with severe weather in places like the West Coast with wildfires, flooding that has been occurring more frequently, including the recent floods in Eastern Kentucky, and the looming sea level rises on the Gulf of Mexico.

Stopping the current pace of climate change will require us to continue to build the climate change movement – and to defend all refugees, domestic or from abroad, against racism, against exploitation and in a struggle for affordable housing, jobs and a life of dignity for all, refugees and non-refugee people. In short: a struggle for a socialist Green New Deal.