The problem

Forced migration as a result of environmental change is an increasing problem that has a huge impact on both the people forced to migrate and the regions or countries to which they move. The legal status of these migrants is unclear, as “environmentally displaced persons” are not recognised under the Geneva Convention. NGOs and environmentalists are pushing for special status and protection for these environment-induced migrant. Progress is hindered, however, by the lack of academic evidence on the size and nature of the problem, and by restrictive asylum and immigration policies in many countries.

Overview:

EACH-FOR will extend European excellence in the provision of information on the consequences for society of forced migration and other effects of environmental degradation.

The project will:

• Investigate the causes of forced migrations and the associations with other social, political and economic phenomena in Europe and in the main countries of migration origin
• Provide plausible future scenarios of forced migration, focusing mainly on environment-induced migrants
• Organise an international conference on the issue and develop a website-based migration simulation modelling tool for research, education and policy development

Contribution to policy development:

• Understanding of present and future aspects of forced migration that is essential for the development of appropriate immigration and refugee policies.
• Project data will also be relevant for the development of effective social cohesion and anti-discrimination policies.
• Facilitation of new opportunities for exchange of information between policy-makers, researchers, politicians and other key stakeholders in Europe and the international community.

Project deliverables

• Overviews, policy briefs and case studies for a variety of regions of the world that are most susceptible to forced migration due to environmental change – months 7-24
• Web-based migration simulation modelling tool for research, education and policy purposes – month 17
• International conference on vulnerability and migration – month 22
• Forced migration scenarios for Europe and Russia, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America – month 24
• Final report, book and policy recommendations – month 24

Dissemination

• Project website to disseminate results and all project reports – from month 2
• Free access web-based environment degradation–migration model for demonstration and training purposes – month 17
• International Conference – month 22
• Papers published in scientific journals – submissions by month 24
• Book containing the proceedings of the international conference – month 24

Technical information

Project acronym: EACH-FOR
Project’s official full title: Environmental Change and Forced Migration Scenarios
Research priority: Comparative research of factors underlying migration and refugee flows, including illegal immigration and trafficking in human beings
Specific webpage: http://www.each-for.eu/index.php
Proposal/contract no: 044468
Start date: not available
Kick off meeting: not available
Completion date: not available
European Commission scientific officer: Marc Goffart,   Marc.Goffart@ec.europa.eu

Coordinator:
Name: ATLAS Innoglobe Ltd
Abbreviated name: ATLAS
Address: 1221 Magdolna St, 6 Budapest
Country: Hungary
Tel: +36 (1) 229 0333
Fax: +36 (1) 229 0333/148
Website: http://www.atlasco.hu/

Partners

Name: United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security
Abbreviated name: UNU-EHS
Country: Germany         

Name: Erasmus University Rotterdam – European Research Centre on Migration and Ethnic Relations
Abbreviated name: Erasmus/ERCOMER
Country: Netherlands     

Name: Bielefeld University, Centre on Migration, Citizenship and Development
Abbreviated name: UNIBI-COMCAD
Country: Germany         

Name: Sustainable Europe Research Institute Nachhaltigkeitsforschungs und Kommunikations GmbH
Abbreviated name:SERI
Country: Austria 

Name: Université de Liège – Centre for Ethnic and Migration Studies
Abbreviated name:CEDEM
Country: Belgium           

Name: Universidad del País Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
Abbreviated name:UPV-EHU
Country: Spain