Climate change could displace over 17 million people within Latin America by 2050, about 2.6% of its population, due to dwindling water sources, reduced crop productivity, and threats from sea level rise and storms. The poorest, most vulnerable areas face the greatest impact.

Climate change is emerging as a potent driver of internal migration. In Latin America, internal climate migrants can number over 17 million, representing up to 2.6 percent of the region’s total population. Climate migrants will move from less viable areas with lower water availability and crop productivity and from areas affected by rising sea level and storm surges. The poorest and most climate vulnerable areas will be hardest hit. Climate migration in Latin America can have substantial development implications, and the stakes are high. Achieving a resilient society - where people can either adapt in place and thrive or migrate with dignity toward areas of higher opportunity - is an important part of meeting national development goals. Concerted action on climate change mitigation and adaptation together with inclusive development policies, and embedding climate migration into policy and planning, can help to substantially reduce the number of internal climate migrants by 2050. This policy note provides an overview of results and their implications for Latin America, one of the three regions of focus.

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