President Biden Signs Order on Climate Migration

On February 9, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Rebuilding and Enhancing Programs To Resettle Refugees and Planning for the Impact of Climate Change on Migration. Within 180 days of the date of the, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and the Director of National Intelligence, must prepare and submit a report on climate change and its impact on migration, including forced migration, internal displacement, and planned relocation. The report must include, at a minimum, discussion of the international security implications of climate-related migration; options for protection and resettlement of individuals displaced directly or indirectly from climate change; mechanisms for identifying such individuals, including through referrals; proposals for how these findings should affect use of United States foreign assistance to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change; and opportunities to work collaboratively with other countries, international organizations and bodies, non-governmental organizations, and localities to respond to migration resulting directly or indirectly from climate change.