Displacement
Refugees Bear the Brunt of Climate Hazards While Funding Falls Short
Three‑quarters of the world’s nearly 90 million refugees live in nations highly exposed to climate hazards, yet fragile host countries receive only about 10 % of global climate finance.
Exposure Levels and Funding Shortfall
UNHCR’s No Escape III analysis finds that roughly three out of four displaced people – nearly 90 million individuals – are situated in countries where climate risks such as drought, flooding and extreme heat are classified as high to severe. In contrast, nations that host large refugee populations and are also fragile or conflict‑affected obtain roughly one‑tenth of worldwide climate‑change financing. The imbalance is even sharper for stateless persons, with more than nine‑tenths residing in highly exposed states. Additionally, over two‑thirds of those who returned home in early 2026 did so to environments still vulnerable to climate shocks.
On‑the‑Ground Climate Impacts
Field reports illustrate how climate stress is already reshaping daily life. In eastern Chad, people displaced from Darfur now travel farther for water because the local dry season is hotter than the one they left behind. Modelling for sub‑Saharan Africa indicates that by 2050 one in three refugee settlements could experience at least 100 days of hazardous heat each year. Meanwhile, El Niño‑related flooding is projected to displace around three million people across Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda before the year ends. In Syria, four million recent returnees face falling groundwater levels and fresh flood damage along the Euphrates, complicating post‑conflict recovery.
Community‑Led Adaptations and Policy Calls
Despite these pressures, displaced populations and host communities are trialling climate‑resilient solutions. Solar‑driven water pumps are being rolled out in parts of the Sahel, climate‑smart farming techniques are expanding in Uganda, and mangrove and land‑restoration projects are underway in Colombia. UNHCR’s Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, Antón Leis García, emphasizes that refugees are not merely victims but also innovators. He urges the upcoming COP31 summit to acknowledge this leadership and convert ambitious pledges into targeted investments that reach the most exposed groups, thereby narrowing the current financing gap.