Migration and Climate Change

Climate change is having significant and diverse impacts on the Islamic Republic of Iran's environment, economy, and society. Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns have led to increased water scarcity, droughts, and desertification, affecting agricultural productivity, water resources, and rural livelihoods. Iran is experiencing more frequent and severe heatwaves, posing risks to human health, especially in urban areas.
 
Extreme weather events, such as intense rainfall and flash floods, have caused infrastructure damage and displacement of communities. Some of the major rivers and lakes in Iran have either dried up or are receding and the country has already experienced multiple episodes of unprecedented sand and dust storms (SDSs) in the western parts.  

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), as the leading intergovernmental migration agency, seeks to promote a comprehensive, evidence and rights-based approach to migration in the context of environmental degradation, climate change and disasters, for the benefit of migrants and societies

IOM Iran aims to strengthen evidence-based policy and operational approaches to address migration in the context of climate change, environmental degradation and disasters due to natural hazards, through the production, analysis and dissemination of relevant knowledge.

Objectives

In line with its Institutional Strategy on Migration, Environment and Climate Change, 2021–2030, IOM Iran aims to strengthen evidence-based policy to address both internal and cross-border migration in the context of environmental degradation. Moreover, it seeks to pilot environmentally friendly interventions to diversify livelihood opportunities and promote more sustainable economic pathways, with the aim of strengthening the resilience of vulnerable communities and reducing their exposure and vulnerability to climate-induced migration factors.

Areas of Intervention

International Conference on Sand and Dust Storms, September 2023

In September 2023, Tehran hosted the UN International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms. During the conference, IOM highlighted the need to enable safe and regular mobility in the context of climate change through disaster risk reduction and adaptation actions.