South Asia climate change could displace 40.5 million people by 2050

Amy Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), warned that climate change is threatening livelihoods and forcing displacement across South Asia. During a visit to New Delhi, Pope noted that rising sea levels, flooding, and droughts pose significant risks to homes and farmland.

In a worst-case scenario, up to 40.5 million people in the region may be forced to move by 2050. Pope highlighted that the inability to produce food or sustain livestock increases the likelihood of migration, often as a primary adaptation strategy. She also noted that extreme heat is accelerating urbanization in India as people move toward urban centers for shelter.

Pope emphasized a global lack of urgency regarding the risks faced by vulnerable communities and argued that investing in resilience measures is far more cost-effective than managing humanitarian disasters, which can cost billions. She suggested that advancements in artificial intelligence and better data could help governments identify high-risk communities through improved forecasting.