Heat, hunger, and homelessness: The future of forced displacement

By Vikas Meshram  

Every year, millions worldwide are forcibly uprooted from their homes due to natural disasters, conflicts, climate change, and development projects—often an intersection of these forces. Those displaced within their own countries are classified as internally displaced persons (IDPs), distinct from refugees since they have not crossed borders. Yet their suffering is just as severe, and often worse.  

According to the Global Internal Displacement Report 2025 by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), a record 66 million people were internally displaced in 2024, with climate disasters accounting for the majority. Weather-related events such as floods, cyclones, wildfires, droughts, and landslides displaced 45.8 million people—nearly double the previous decade’s average. Alarmingly, 99.5% of these displacements were caused solely by climate events. This proves that climate change is not a distant threat—it is a crisis of the present, disproportionately affecting the poor and vulnerable.  

Even developed nations are not immune. The United States recorded 11 million climate-induced displacements in 2024, driven by devastating wildfires and storms. This constitutes nearly a quarter of global weather-related displacements, underscoring that no country—however advanced—can escape climate change’s wrath.    

Beyond environmental disasters, conflict and violence further fuel displacement. In 2024, 20.1 million people fled violence worldwide, with three-quarters of them in nations already highly vulnerable to climate change. This dangerous intersection of war and ecological catastrophe shatters societies, leaving populations stranded without support.  

India, too, faces this crisis. The country’s diverse climate—ranging from Himalayan snowfall to southern cyclones—renders it highly susceptible to climate-induced displacement. In 2024, 5.4 million Indians were displaced due to natural disasters, while 1,700 more fled conflict and violence. In Assam alone, 2.5 million people were displaced by floods, worsened by poor drainage, mismanaged dams, and unplanned urbanization—making it the worst flood disaster of the decade.    

Displacement is more than lost land—it is lost identity, livelihoods, security, and dignity. Families are uprooted, forced into makeshift shelters with inadequate sanitation, healthcare, and education. Women’s safety is a particularly pressing concern.  

Additionally, rising global temperatures exacerbate the crisis. Extreme heat threatens not just ecosystems but mental and physical well-being. Studies show that over the past two decades, rising temperatures have cost individuals an average of 44 hours of sleep annually, with each 1°C rise leading to sleep deprivation for over 10,000 people per year.  

Among the most devastating health consequences of climate change is its impact on pregnancy. Pregnancy already puts enormous strain on a woman’s body, with increased blood volume, metabolism, and internal heat. Excessive sweating, dehydration, fatigue, and fainting can trigger premature labor—a growing concern worldwide.  

Over the last five years, 90% of countries have seen a surge in dangerously hot days. Research by Climate Central shows that each year now includes temperatures surpassing 95% of historical records—days deemed hazardous for pregnant women. Extreme heat increases risks of high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, emergency hospitalizations, and even stillbirth. Furthermore, breathing polluted air during pregnancy can harm fetal brain development, affecting children for life. If a woman’s body temperature remains above 102°F (39°C) for more than 10 minutes, she is at risk of heatstroke—potentially fatal for both mother and child.    

To protect future generations, we must halt the reckless burning of fossil fuels. Even one day of extreme heat can harm a pregnancy. Governments spend billions on disaster response, rehabilitation, and rebuilding, yet funding remains insufficient, delayed, or misallocated. Climate displacement also removes people from the workforce, crippling national economies—particularly rural agricultural communities.  

Displacement is not just a human tragedy—it is a vast socio-economic and environmental catastrophe. Solutions must go beyond temporary aid. We need climate-resilient infrastructure, disaster preparedness training, local engagement, and transparent governance. Rehabilitation efforts are often poorly planned and opaque, worsening the crisis instead of alleviating it.  

The world cannot afford to treat climate displacement as an abstract possibility—it is a reality unfolding before our eyes. Governments must develop long-term strategies, incorporate displacement into climate policies, and build safety nets for the most vulnerable. The time to act is not tomorrow—it is now.