Ulaanbaatar - On 3 April 2025, IOM Mongolia organized a validation workshop for the research titled “Migration and Climate Change Nexus” at the UN House in Ulaanbaatar. The workshop was attended by various stakeholders, including government officials, partners, representatives from UN entities, and research institutions. Public Lab Mongolia, contracted research institute of IOM Mongolia who managed the research study, presented the findings during the workshop. 

The research aimed to understand the drivers, impacts, and potential strategies related to climate change-induced displacement for the first time in Mongolia. The research was conducted from the end of 2024 to early 2025. IOM Mongolia collaborated with Public Lab Mongolia to conduct a gender-sensitive study across four provinces at the end of 2024: Zavkhan, Khuvsgul, Tuv, and Sukhbaatar. The study encompassed not only herders but also migrant populations in rural areas. 

The key conclusions drawn from the research findings include:

1. Climate Change as a Major Driver of Migration
2. Migration as Both an Adaptation Strategy and a Sign of Vulnearbility
3. Slow-Onset Climate Change Has a Greater Impact on Migration
4. Migration in Mongolia is Predominantly Voluntary and Internal
5. Socioeconomic Impacts of Climate Change Migration
6. Women and Children are Disproportionately Affected by Climate Change Migration
7. Weak Coordination between Migration Management and Climate Adaptation Policies
8. Lack of a Policy Framework for Climate Change Migration in Mongolia

The research was part of IOM Mongolia’s project “Addressing Climate Change-Induced Human Mobility in Mongolia”, implemented with support from the IOM Development Fund (IOMDF) and in partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The primary objective of this project is to enhance the capacity of the Government of Mongolia (GoM) and rural communities to respond to climate change-induced disasters and their impacts on migration. The study findings are expected to serve as the foundation for evidence-based guidelines to inform government responses to migration in disaster risk situations.

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For more information, please contact Byambasuren M. at IOM Mongolia, Email: bmunkhjargal@iom.int