They’re Coming…and Going

Climate migrants, that is. Driven by the actual or anticipated effects of global warming; rising sea levels, persistent drought or floods, water scarcity, fears of social unrest. A few years ago, the conventional wisdom was that most “environmental refugees” — 25 million people in 2006 — would be heading north, from south, if they could. But a recent Washington Post article suggests that “ecomigration” is a truly global phenomenon. It’s not just developing world to developed, or coast to highland. One man profiled by the Post moved his young family from California to New Zealand, and another relocated from Israel to Indiana. The number of ecomigrants (women, men, and yes, children) could reach 200 million in 50 years. We’d better get our bags packed…and our welcome mats out. To learn more about the global climate agenda, consider attending “Half the Sky”, a panel discussion on climate, gender, and population, in New York City on March 6th Brighter Green’s co-sponsoring to celebrate International Women’s Day.