Of course climate change is about environmental degradation, but that’s not the whole story. On a human level, marginalised countries and people are disproportionately hit by its terrible effects, in livelihood, work, health, access to rights. Countries and individuals who contribute the least to the environmental crisis are the ones who suffer the most from its effects.

Some Europeans might have the luxury of being green in their lifestyles, but the whole society is based on extreme consumption. If all people in the world lived like an average EU resident, we would need 2.8 planet earths to sustain us! People affected by climate change can suffer damage to their health and property, be deprived of livelihoods, incur irreparable debt and lose their capacity to pursue a dignified life in their own home.

The effects of climate change can push people to migrate either inside of their own country or over the border to neighbours. A minority of people end up going further, to Europe. Against their will they have to leave their homes, family, friends, and sometimes possessions, in search for a better life.

People forced to migrate often lack proper legal and social protection. They often have to take what work they can get, sometimes at the expense of their freedom. People who don’t have access to the most basic human and workers’ rights are then vulnerable to exploitation and even conditions of slavery by people taking advantage of them.

When undocumented migrants are used as an informal work force, then that gives companies who use them an unfair advantage over companies that respect human, economic, social and environmental rights and pay their workers a dignified wage.

When natural resources, work availability and services dwindle conflicts can occur, as people do what they can to survive. If people are prevented from leaving a territory with no work or food, emergencies can arise with immense human, social and economic costs.