Former Latvian president warns climate migration threatens global stability

Climate change–induced migration is emerging as a serious threat to global stability in this century, said former Latvian President Raimonds Vējonis at Baku Climate Action Week, Report informs.

Vējonis argued that countries must act on multiple fronts to combat climate change:

"First and foremost, we must end wars. Every bullet fired, every bomb dropped not only destroys human lives but also undermines climate resilience."

He added that reducing emissions and fossil fuel dependence is essential:

"Renewable energy is not only about saving the planet-it's also about easing geopolitical tension tied to oil and gas. We must invest in adaptation. The use of smart agricultural systems should expand. These measures support both peace and climate resilience."

On the plight of climate migrants, Vējonis noted:

"We must protect people displaced by climate-related causes. They should not be invisible; they require international support mechanisms. Global cooperation must be strengthened. No country can solve this alone. From the Paris Agreement to regional climate compacts, collaboration is our strongest weapon against both global warming and instability."

He further warned that climate change is not a future problem, but a present reality:

"The world is already confronting the effects of climate change every day."

Vējonis cited alarming statistics: each day, more than 60,000 people are forced to move by storms, floods, or drought. In 2022 alone, climate disasters displaced over 32 million people. If current trends continue, the World Bank estimates up to 216 million people may become climate migrants by 2050.

"These aren't abstract figures-they are families, farmers, children, shattered communities. We must be clear: not every war starts from drought or storm, but climate change amplifies risks. It adds pressure on already-strained societies. Political decisions may ignite conflict, but climate change makes their resolution far more difficult," he said.