The recent collaborative report by International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and Anti-Slavery International named as “Climate-Induced Migration and Modern Slavery” has brought attention to the increasing global challenges such as climate change, inequality, migration and modern slavery. The UK-based IIED is an organisation dedicated to promoting sustainable development while linking local concerns to global issues. The Anti-Slavery International, established in 1839, is a British charity working tirelessly to abolish all forms of slavery.
Climate Change and Inequality
Climate change is causing irreversible damage to our planet and resulting in heightened global inequality, as well as triggering disputes over land, water, and other essential resources. People face increased hardship and are compelled to relocate within their countries or across borders, due to scarcity of resources and livelihood opportunities. In 2020 alone, extreme weather conditions led to internal displacement of as many as 55 million people. The World Bank’s Groundswell Report predicts that by 2050, climate crisis impacts such as poor crop productivity, water shortages and rising sea levels could force over 216 million individuals across six regions including sub-Saharan Africa, south Asia and Latin America to abandon their homes.
Modern Slavery on the Rise
Climate change-induced extreme weather events expose vulnerable groups, particularly women, children, and minority communities, to risks such as human trafficking and modern slavery. This rising trend is evident in countries like India. Currently, it is estimated that around 40.3 million people worldwide live under slavery conditions. The drivers making individuals susceptible to modern slavery are multifaceted, influenced by socio-economic, political, cultural, and institutional risks, which are further worsened by environmental degradation and climate change.
The Dire Case of Sundarban Region
The Sundarban region, characterised by frequent, severe, and sudden disasters, leaves millions of its residents unable to work most of the year. Intense cyclones and flooding in the Sundarbans delta have also shrunk the land available for agriculture, the primary livelihood source. Traffickers often target widows and desperate men looking to cross the border into India for work, exploiting them for labor and prostitution.
Policy Recommendations and Suggestions
Climate and development policymakers must acknowledge the link between climate displacement and the increased risk of slavery. Targeted actions at both national and international levels are vital. International discourse on development and climate policy should take into account the rising trafficking and slavery risks due to climate shocks. The G-20 nations need to allocate long-term funding to combat slavery in the context of recurring climate-related displacement. Existing initiatives like the Warsaw International Mechanism Task Force on Displacement (WIM TFD), the Sendai Framework, etc., need better coordination to improve our understanding and response to the growing risk of climate-induced displacement and modern slavery risks.
The Urgency to Address Modern Slavery
The report is a warning to world leaders ahead of November 2021’s United Nations climate summit, Conference of Parties (CoP 26), in Glasgow. It urges them to ensure that efforts to address the climate emergency concurrently tackle modern slavery. There are various forms of modern slavery, including human trafficking, forced labour, debt bondage/bonded labour, descent-based slavery, child slavery, and forced or early marriage.
