GEVENA, November 10, 2026 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that millions of people face the risk of displacement due to escalating climate disasters and a lack of the funding required to address them. The organization noted that approximately 30 million instances of displacement were recorded in 2025 as a result of storms, floods, and other disasters.

Speaking at the opening of the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Turkey, IOM Director General Amy Pope stated that delays in investing in climate adaptation are forcing more families to leave their homes. She emphasized the urgent need to shift from emergency disaster response toward long-term investments aimed at protecting populations.

Pope highlighted that developing nations will require up to $365 billion annually by 2035 to adapt to climate change—a stark contrast to the $26 billion in international public funding provided in 2023. She called for an increase in climate finance, directed specifically toward the communities most vulnerable to disasters, and warned that if the gap between needs and available resources persists, displacement will only worsen in the coming years.

K.T