Climate Migration: Southern Brazil’s Floods Unveil the Dire Consequences of Ignoring Warning Signs

Climate change is contributing to an increase in natural disasters, and recent floods in southern Brazil are a clear warning sign of this. Nearly 389,000 people remain displaced from their homes following the worst disaster in Rio Grande do Sul’s history. The state is still struggling with the aftermath of the flooding, with many residents still living in shelters despite water receding.

Scientists attribute the intensity of the rain and flooding to climate change, making such events twice as likely to occur. Andrew Harper, a special advisor on climate action to UNHCR, has described the situation as dire. In Porto Alegre, he saw a “ghost town” where everything had died due to being underwater for nearly 40 days. Despite efforts to rebuild, some areas may never be resettled due to repeated flooding, creating climate migrants in the process.

UNHCR is working with local authorities to assist in building temporary housing for displaced residents, including Venezuelan refugees who had resettled in Porto Alegre. Harper emphasizes the importance of governments identifying and including vulnerable populations in their climate plans. He notes that ignoring warning signs can have devastating consequences and calls on governments to be better prepared for such disasters as they become more frequent and severe in the future.