The forthcoming virtual event “Human capital and mobility at the service of the green economy”, part of the official programme of the European Development Days (EDDs) will take place on Tuesday 15 June 2021 at 14.55 (Central European time or Brussels time). The panel will involve speakers from ICMPD, the Municipality of Rabat and a community leader from India. In order to attend, individuals must create an account and request to register to the EDDs through this link.
Green economy, environment and migration: how do these interconnect?
The main objective of the European Green Deal is to make the EU’s economy sustainable and tackle climate and environmental challenges by transforming it into opportunities for trade, development and international cooperation.
The transformation towards green and sustainable economies relies on the development of knowledge and skills as a way to empower people. Equivalent to preceding Industrial Revolutions, this transformation offers great potential for new activities and jobs and requires a more nuanced reflection about the development of skills, knowledge and competencies that will be in demand in the future. As a leading actor in the field of migration, ICMPD is keen to explore how this transition could affect human mobility and how institutions and policy-makers can be ready to seize its related opportunities.
High-level panel at the European Development Days
The high-level panel “Human capital and mobility at the service of the green economy” will be moderated by journalist Mariam Zaidi and feature Dr. Michael Spindelegger, ICMPD’s Director-General, Mohamed Sadiki, Mayor of Rabat and the Kishore Gopal Reddy, EDD Young Leader as confirmed speakers.
Speakers will debate these issues whilst taking into account the specific needs and dynamics of the international level, the local level and the community level. Some of the questions that the panellists will seek to give forward-thinking answers to are:
- What type of skills will migrant workers need to sustain the transition towards the green economy?
- How can governments and other actors include a strong skills and human mobility dimension in the Building Back Better strategies? What implications does this have for migration to the EU and intra-EU mobility?
- How can skills partnerships with third countries be leveraged to support the European Green Deal?
To take part in these discussions and deepen knowledge about the green economy and migration, interested parties can request to register for the European Development Days via this link.
Previous MIEUX Actions on climate change, environment and migration
The shift towards a green economy is a result of greater political awareness about the detrimental effects of climate change on people and economies around the world. In recent years, both governments and practitioners have been exploring the implications and effects of climate change on population movements.
In 2014, the Governments of Benin, Guinea-Bissau and Togo requested support from MIEUX to facilitate dialogue and consultation in the region to address migration, climate change and the environment. On the other side of the Atlantic, the Action Ecuador II brought together academia, governments and civil society organisations to discuss these challenges at local and central levels.
Under MIEUX+ the Action Benin II is building on previous findings by focusing on environmentally induced migration data management.
As these examples show, whilst the links between climate change and migration seem to have spurred a plethora of programmes, research activities and government actions, the interaction between the green economy and mobility remains a relatively new topic that is worth exploring at the EDDs, Europe’s leading forum on development.
Next steps
Join ICMPD and partners on Tuesday 15 June at 14.55 (Central European time or Brussels time) to be part of the discussions that ultimately will contribute to the practical application of the EU Green Deal through comprehensive and practical migration instruments.
Register to the European Development Days by clicking on this link (note that you will have to create an account and that your registration will be approved by their team in a few days).
There are further opportunities to explore this topic. First, the European Union Global Diaspora Facility (EUDiF), under the umbrella of the ICMPD Global Initiatives Programme, is organising the EUDiF Future Forum between 22 and 24 June. Day 2 of the conference will focus on how the diaspora can drive effective green actions in line with European and international commitments. In the second half of 2021, MIEUX+ will also produce a discussion paper based on the main takeaway messages of the high-level panel and on recent debates. Sign up to the newsletter to receive updates!