Alex Randall
Alex Randall
Alex is a leading expert in climate-driven migration and displacement. He has over 15 years of experience leading projects on the connection between climate change, migration and human rights.
His research expertise covers some of the most complex situations and crises – with publications focusing on climate-driven displacement and conflict in Syria and the Horn of Africa. Alex has led a number of major publications focused on the experiences of people displaced by climate impacts and EU policy on climate driven displacement.
He is currently part of civil society consultative committee of the Platform on Disaster Displacement and the advisory board of the HABITABLE project.
Alex has led advocacy work focused on several global policy processes, with a particular focus on the UNFCCC, SDGs and Refugee and Migration Compacts – always with a focus on how these can create improved protection for people vulnerable to climate change impacts.
He has provided policy guidance to national and city governments on their approach to climate driven migration and displacement. He has acted as an adviser to several major international agencies, shaping their work on climate driven mobility – including the United Nations Refugee Agency and International Organization for Migration.
Alex’s published academic work includes journal articles and book chapters exploring the public perception of climate change and the representation of climate driven migration within civil society organizations.
He led and taught the course ‘climate change and migration – predictions, politics and policy’ the first mass online course focused exclusively on the connections between climate change and human mobility. The course was specifically designed for professionals working in climate, refugee and resilience sectors and had participants joining from over 80 countries and from government agencies in Bangladesh, Nigeria and Indonesia.
Climate change and the conflict in Syria
This video looks at the raging academic debate on Syria and climate change – and helps you navigate this complex areas of research.
Climate-linked migration and the Horn of Africa
Can we pin the crisis in the Horn of Africa on climate change? Or is the whole situation far more complicated? Get to grips with the links between climate, conflict, drought and famine.
Climate change and the Horn of Africa crisis
Briefing: climate change plays a complex role in the creation of the Horn of Africa crisis. Get to grips with how armed conflict and drought collided.
Climate change driving migration into China’s vulnerable cities
Climate change driving migration into China’s vulnerable cities Alex Randall Alex is programme manager of the Climate and Migration Coalition Natural disasters are displacing record numbers of urban Chinese, but millions are migrating into the same cities to escape...
Unpacking climate, migration and armed conflict
Climate change related displacement and migration are often viewed as security concerns, particularly among policy makers and the media. Headlines in recent years, for example, have focused on drought and environmental refugees in Syria, attributing some of the...
Fixing climate-linked displacement: are the climate talks enough?
In this talk we make the case that the climate change talks have lead to progress on climate-linked migration. But that to protect the rights of people who move, progress must also be made in several other places. You can also download just the audio to listen to as a...
Migration is a successful climate adaptation strategy
Governments across the world should legalise and regulate temporary climate migration, rather than try to prevent it.
What we get wrong about migration and climate change
Most of what you know about climate-linked migration is probably wrong. The media usually report on the connections that are most dramatic or tragic, skewing the picture.
Why governments will eventually, reluctantly back migration as climate adaptation
Last year 23 million people were forced from their homes by disasters linked to the weather and climate change. As the planet warms (which inevitably it will) this number will probably go up.
Environmental refugees: who are they, definition and numbers
Who are environmental refugees, and how many will there be? Find out more in our introduction to the topic
Six things governments should do about hurricane displacement right now
How should we respond to climate-driven hurricane displacement? What new policies do we need to protect people who are forced to move.
Paddington: a bear crossing borders
The Paddington Bear stories and film are modern fables about the treatment of refugees. The Paddington film raises important questions about the legal status of people fleeing disasters, and makes a powerful case for the humane treatment of all migrants.
