Appendix 1: Key concepts and definitions
In this appendix, you will find a thematic list of some of the key concepts (and their definitions) needed to understand climate change and climate migration. It may be useful for older students to define some of these concepts themselves, and each definition can be adapted to suit the needs of different age groups.
Anthropogenic
This adjective, which is often used in debates about climate change, simply means “resulting from human activity.” As such, anthropogenic climate change is caused by human activity, as opposed to climate change brought on by natural phenomena such as a volcanic eruption or changes in solar radiation.
Climate
The climate is defined as the average of the weather conditions (temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind, etc.) experienced in a given region over a period of at least thirty years. This is very different from what we call the weather. A meteorologist will provide a forecast of expected weather in a limited area over a short period of time, whereas a climatologist will use statistics collected over a very long period to study past and future climate variations over vast regions.
Climate change and environmental impact
The climate has changed a lot over the history of the Earth: our planet has been very warm or very cold over long periods, even before the arrival of human beings. Recent climate change is different. A (very large) number of scientific studies have shown that temperatures on Earth have been increasing faster than ever before, and that this is the result of human (anthropogenic) activity. Over the past several centuries, we have used petroleum, natural gas, and coal to heat our homes, move around, and power our factories, thus releasing a gas called carbon dioxide (CO2) into the Earth’s atmosphere. This “greenhouse gas,” however, has trapped heat in our atmosphere, increasing global temperatures and changing the climate!
Warming temperatures have an impact on the weather conditions on Earth; the frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme weather events (heatwaves, storms…) have been increasing. This has also affected our environment. For example, higher temperatures have melted Arctic ice, which has led to rising sea levels worldwide—homes and buildings located along coastlines and rivers now risk being flooded or even engulfed. Warming temperatures and decreased rainfall are also linked to droughts and increased risk of forest fires, which may trigger smog or air pollution in cities located nearby or even hundreds of kilometres away.
Fossil fuels and greenhouse gases (GHGs)
For millions of years, plants and other organisms have been decomposing under layers of earth and rock, creating what we know as coal, petroleum, and natural gas. We consider these to be non-renewable sources of energy, because they are formed over millions of years and their supply is limited. These fuels are generally used in combustion processes, meaning that we burn them to heat our homes, move around, and produce goods. The combustion of fossil fuels is one of the main sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs): when we burn coal or petroleum, we emit CO2 (or carbon dioxide), which heats up the atmosphere and is a leading cause of anthropogenic climate change.
Internal climate displacement
Internal climate displacement includes all climate-induced migration that occurs within the borders of a single country. Such displacement can be temporary or permanent.
Climate justice
Do you know who is most affected by climate change? Although the last few years have shown that no one is safe from its effects, certain regions of the world are more impacted than others. This is the case for a number of densely populated countries and regions of the Global South, where many people are already vulnerable because of their socioeconomic status. Moreover, these countries have contributed the least to global GHG emissions, which brings up questions of equity and “climate justice.” Many believe that the countries, industries, and corporations that have economically benefited the most from emission-heavy activity have the responsibility to help other countries and populations fight climate change and adapt to its impacts (see the definition of Adaptation strategies below).
In order to consider other aspects of climate justice, we must ask ourselves: Do we all experience the impacts of climate change equally? For instance, do you have access to a place where you can cool down in the middle of a heatwave? Are there parks and greenery near your home? Are you able to move around with ease and without assistance? Do you have enough money to buy an air conditioner? Do you have any health conditions that could worsen due to excess heat? Income, social class, education level, location, age, and disability are but a few examples of the factors that will affect an individual’s or community’s resilience in the face of climate change and its health impacts.
Indeed, climate justice is a global/international issue, both in terms of the moral responsibilities of large GHG emitters and the inequitable distribution of the means and resilience of different populations and individuals in the face of climate change.
Mitigation strategies
One of the first measures that we can take to curb climate change is to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Any strategies that aim primarily to reduce our use of fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum—important sources of GHG emissions—are mitigations measures. Walking or biking instead of driving, for example, are mitigation measures!
Adaptation strategies
Adaptation strategies aim to prevent and mitigate the impacts of climate change, either with the intention of protecting the environment or the health/well-being of populations. Such measures include cultivating resilient plant varieties, improving water use and storage to fight drought, building levees to protect coastlines and infrastructure from flooding, reducing wildfire risk, developing heatwave or storm response measures to assist local populations, and many others. Even displacement, that is, migrating away from an area affected by climate change, is considered an adaptation measure. It is important to remember, however, that displacement must be an active choice that will effectively improve the life circumstances of migrants.
Migrant
Any person who leaves their primary place of residence to go live elsewhere, for any reason, is considered a migrant. These displacements may be temporary or permanent, and migrants may travel great distances (e.g., internationally), or move within the same area (e.g., to a nearby city, a hotel, or a friend’s house).
Climate migrant
A climate migrant is a person who has chosen or been forced to move in order to escape the effects of climate change on their life or place of residence (e.g., frequent flooding, droughts that impede agriculture, destructive storms that may have destroyed their home, etc.). Climate migration is not covered by any specific legal status.
Non-status or Undocumented migrant
In order to enter and settle in Canada, migrants must fit the criteria linked to one of the many legal migrant categories. Those who are not authorized to stay in the country, whether temporarily or permanently, or whose visa has expired are often called “undocumented” migrants.
Asylum seeker
Asylum seekers are persons who have fled their country and applied for protection as refugees, but are still awaiting an immigration decision. Refugee status can only be obtained by individuals who are able to prove that they cannot return to their home country for fear of persecution as a result of their race, religion, nationality, political beliefs, or their affiliation to a particular social group. Asylum seekers are considered temporary residents until they obtain refugee status. If their request is denied, they will be legally and officially required to leave the country.
Temporary resident
Any person authorized to enter and remain in Canada on a temporary basis. This includes foreign workers, international students, and migrants awaiting their refugee status.
Permanent resident
A permanent resident is any person authorized to remain in Canada indefinitely. This status can be obtained through any one of the various legal pathways to permanent residency, such as sponsorship by a family member who already has permanent residency or citizenship (family reunification programs). Under certain conditions, it is possible for economic migrants (defined below) or international students to obtain permanent residency as well. Migrants with refugee status are also considered permanent residents.
It is important to note, however, that effective paths to permanent residency have decreased in recent years, especially on the provincial level.
Economic migrant
Legally, an economic migrant is a person who fits specific criteria that grant them the right to enter and gain employment in a given country. However, this term is sometimes used pejoratively to denote migrants who entered a country illegally with the sole intention of improving their economic circumstances. We should be careful when using such terminology. The reasons people choose to migrate are often very complex: someone who can no longer farm their land as a result of a drought is not only seeking to improve their “economic” circumstances. In addition, there are many legal ways for economic migrants to obtain permanent residency.