Welcome to the inaugural monthly edition of the Climate Mobility Innovation Lab for Asia and the Pacific (CMIL-AP) newsletter series. Following the successful launch of the CMIL-AP unit on 1 November 2024, we are thrilled to begin delivering comprehensive updates on our initiatives and emerging innovations. As momentum builds around developing innovative solutions to address climate mobility globally and across this region, this newsletter aims to keep colleagues and partners worldwide informed about our work to tackle the complex challenges of climate-induced mobility.
Inaugurated the Brownbag Webinar Series with a first webinar on Disaster Displacement Indicators featuring Thannaletchimy Housset, PhD, Research Manager at the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC).
Participated in a side-event "A Future Without Displacement: Improving Understanding, Supporting Innovation, and Catalyzing Local Action to Avert Climate-Induced Displacement" at COP 29.
Presented in a panel discussion titled: Climate Justice and Displacement: Legal Framework and Collaborative Solutions hosted by the UNDP.
Launched a Technical Working Group comprising academics, scientists and experts to support macro-level analysis and identifying potential hotspots.
Presented the Risk Index for Climate Displacement’s (RICD) initial Macro-level findings at the East Asian Economic Association Conference.
Organised an ignite stage event at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR).
Bradley Mellicker is the Head of CMIL, with a background in disaster risk reduction, humanitarian response, and durable solutions for internal displacement.
Victor is a Project Officer who leads research and capacity development for the Risk Index for Climate Displacement Programme.
Sheryn is a Climate Mobility Consultant who combines expertise in flood engineering with a focus on humanitarian response to displacement.
The Risk Index for Climate Displacement (RICD), an operational foresight tool, has made significant progress since its launch in May 2024. The macro-level analysis has identified and mapped out potential hotspot areas in the Philippines and Indonesia by combining hazard, exposure, and vulnerability data. Working groups have also been established to develop modules for the micro-level work on housing, livelihood, and displacement dynamics.
This micro-level analysis adopts a localized, people-centered approach to gain insights into the community's lived experiences and the factors that influence their decisions to move. This analysis employs a mixed-methods approach, combining field-based data collection—including household surveys, key informant interviews (KIIs), and focus group discussions (FGDs)—with statistical modeling.
The Co-Creation Hub (CCH) was established in October, serving as a collaborative platform for scientists, academics, policymakers, and practitioners from diverse disciplines across the region. They work together to innovate solutions, share knowledge and improve responses to the challenges of climate-induced displacement.
The inaugural webinar of the CCH's Brown Bag Webinar Series, held on 19 November 2024, featured Dr. Thannaletchimy Housset from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). Dr. Letchimy delivered a presentation on disaster displacement indicators, emphasizing their relevance and importance.
The Climate Catalytic Fund (CCF) was launched in November 2024 as an agile and independent fund by the CMIL-AP to address climate-induced displacement. By operationalizing the RICD, the CCF targets high-risk communities with precision, driving innovative, bankable solutions while mobilizing additional resources through blended finance approaches.
CMIL-AP organized a side-event titled "A Future Without Displacement: Improving Understanding, Supporting Innovation, and Catalyzing Local Action to Avert Climate-Induced Displacement" at the IOM Climate Change and Human Mobility Pavilion at COP 29 on 16 November 2024 in Baku. This event delved into the complex challenges of addressing climate-induced displacement across Asia and the Pacific.
On 13 November 2024, CMIL-AP participated in a panel discussion at the UNDP's Conference "Achieving Just Societies: Inclusive Justice Pathways for People and Planet in Asia and the Pacific". The session, "Climate Justice and Displacement: Legal Frameworks and Collaborative Solutions," provided a platform to highlight progress and gaps in legal frameworks for protecting individuals displaced by climate change.
On 1 November 2024, CMIL-AP presented initial Macro-level findings of the Risk Index for Climate Displacement (RICD) at the East Asian Economic Association Conference. This session, "Exploring the Nexus: Climate Change and Disaster-Induced Migration," was hosted in collaboration with the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI) and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT).
On 16 October 2024, CMIL-AP organized an ignite stage event at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) titled: "Operational Foresight for Local Action in the Context of Climate Displacement". This presentation provided an overview of the RICD framework, its importance, key focus areas, and initial data snapshots from the Philippines.
A new briefing paper, "Climate-Induced Displacement: Understanding Risks and Supporting Local Action in Asia and the Pacific," has been published. It provides a comprehensive overview of CMIL-AP, outlining its objectives and key approaches, including the RICD, CCH, and CCF. The paper also features eight expert insights illuminating the complex, multi-dimensional challenges of climate-induced displacement.