Welcome to the European Parliamentary Research Service podcasts.

In this podcast, we'll talk about climate refugees, a concept that remains unclear

despite the rising number of people forcibly displaced because of climate disasters.

Stay with us.

Last summer, as deadly floods left entire Belgian and German towns drenched in mud and beyond recognition,

many Europeans woke up to a painful truth.

Climate change does not only affect countries in Africa or Asia, it is now hitting home.

Since 2008, over 318 million people around the world have been forcibly displaced by floods,

windstorms, earthquakes or droughts, 31 million in 2020 alone.

Many find refuge within their own country, but some are forced to go abroad.

Wondering how big this is? It's the equivalent to one person being displaced every second,

or the entire Australian population being displaced every year. So it's big, and it will only get bigger.

Rachel Simon works for Climate Action Network Europe.

Reasons for forced displacement can be complex,

but increasing climate impacts in combination with other factors

are forcing more and more people to leave their homes.

It is claimed that about 300 million people will be vulnerable to annual flooding by 2050.

Even if global warming is kept under 2 degrees Celsius,

scientists predict ocean levels to rise by up to 60 centimeters.

For cities like Mumbai, Jakarta, Shanghai, New York or Venice, this could be a true Atlantis.

Entire countries such as the Netherlands could even disappear and their populations be forced to move.

So what is the international community doing about this?

...