Overlooked and Misunderstood: Stories about Climate, Conflict, and Migration

Oct 6, 2017 | Bethany N. Bella
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Barbuda—an island once full of people—has been rendered completely uninhabitable by Hurricane Irma. Every single resident was evacuated from the island, and some are not planning to return. Climate-induced migration and displacement is not usually this dramatic, but it is not uncommon: Since 2008, UNHCR estimates that an average 21.5 million people each year have been forcibly displaced by weather-related natural disasters, like floods, storms, and wildfires. Yet despite the magnitude of the problem, it is largely ignored in mainstream media coverage.  Pioneering journalists at the upcoming Society of Environmental Journalists’ conference in Pittsburgh will share their experiences covering this overlooked crisis, along with an expert who can shed light on common misunderstandings about the complex relationship between climate, migration, and conflict.