Governments have begun to acknowledge the growing impacts of climate change on the displacement of people. Adaptation policies, in particular, reveal a nuanced understanding of the ways in which climate change affects people’s ability—or need—to move. As of 2024, 11 out of the 25 member states of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) mentioned climate-related mobility in their climate action plans—whether their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

One recent example is Mexico, which updated its National Climate Change Strategy to include the challenges of both domestic and international migration caused by climate impacts. The strategy emphasizes that responses must be grounded in human rights—both in helping communities adapt and in supporting migrants as they resettle and integrate.

Beyond climate policies, a few countries are beginning to explore new laws and policies to directly address climate displacement. Costa Rica, for instance, explored changes to its refugee laws to account for people displaced by climate-related events. Colombia’s highest court ruled that the impacts of climate change can legally be considered a cause of forced displacement. The court urged lawmakers to create a legal framework that addresses this issue head-on. A draft law introduced in 2023 proposes creating a national registry of people displaced by climate change and calls for dedicated protections and support for them.

Overall, governments in the region are starting to treat climate mobility as a real and urgent policy issue. Some are finding ways to work within existing immigration systems to offer protection to people displaced by climate and environmental shocks. However, most of these protections are temporary and apply only in very specific situations. Right now, the region still lacks long-term, reliable pathways for people who need to relocate because of climate change—pathways that offer safety, dignity, and the chance to rebuild their lives.