Anthropogenic climate change is remapping our planet. Critical masses, as time passes so do the climates on Earth that are able to comfortably support life - shifting latitudes already excluding upwards of 600 million people from once hospitable landscapes. Experts predict that his number could increase to 6 billion by 2100 (Timothy M. Lenton et al.). Migration induced by anthropocentric climate change implicates more than simply temperature extreme weather events - its impacts are uneven, humanity experiencing food and water scarcity, healthcare inequities, increased mortality rates, lawlessness, and dispossession. On the eve of the sixth-mass extinction, climate induced dispossession is becoming one of the leading causes of houselessness.
According to the estimates of researchers Vermeer and Rahmstorf, by the year 2100 sea levels could rise between 75 and 190 cm. Despite our best climate models, the numbers will not be quantified until they are actually observed. As we glimpse the devastations to come through LCDs, many in the tangible world are already experiencing migration - those with the lowest emissions will be the first to feel the consequences of anthropogenic climate warming. The mass polar migration is underway.
Understanding migration is a multifaceted issue. Displacement not only divorces migrants from physical property, but also from cultures, tradition, and community. Unfamiliar worlds. In 2007, for the first time in recorded human history, more humans lived in urban settlements than in rural ones. Since then, this number has only been on the rise. According to the UN, the number could rise to upwards of 68% by 2050, mostly due to relocation in Asia and Africa. Cities, once modest, will soon become mega metropolises as the global masses turn away from remote farms and flock into the streets. The issue of migration is not restricted to the Global South. By 2050, the countries of Egypt and China will see an estimated 12 million and 73 million from climate refugees alone, respectively. These alarming numbers are only a small fraction of what could be the world’s global total.
To imagine an equitable future for all who are displaced at this critical junction, it is crucial to acknowledge the significance of climate change as a driving force behind this impending crisis. Climigrant’s Sketchbook recognizes the imperative need to provide support and resources to those affected, enabling them to adapt effectively and create sustainable livelihoods.