Anti-Slavery International, the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and the Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP) are pleased to announce the official launch of the Climate Change & Modern Slavery Hub. This initiative addresses the urgent global issue of modern slavery within the context of climate-induced migration.
Explore the research hub here >>

Background on climate change and modern slavery
As our planet faces the extreme threat of climate change, more and more people are increasingly vulnerable to climate change impacts, which can lead to an increased risk of modern slavery.
The impacts of the climate crisis are driving large-scale displacement of communities, forcing people to migrate and seek alternatives for survival elsewhere. As people on the move face precarious living conditions, income uncertainty and lack of adequate rights protection, they can become even more susceptible to modern slavery.
Factors like gender, poverty, and a lack of job opportunities make people affected by climate change even more vulnerable to the risks of slavery. While the risks vary according to the context, common challenges that people face include lack of adequate governmental protection and support mechanisms and lack of sufficient financial resources to cope with the effects of climate change. For example, if a person’s crop fails and this was their primary livelihood, then they may find themselves with no choice but to migrate for work. These risks are exacerbated when there is a lack of safe migration routes, and access to rights protections for migrants – even if they are migrating within their own country. People often face greater risks when they are excluded from (or simply can’t access) social protection systems in the places they have migrated to.
Why the climate change and modern slavery hub is essential
The intersection of climate change, migration, and modern slavery is complex and poorly understood. This knowledge gap results in inadequate policies and programmes to protect vulnerable populations. Our Climate Change & Modern Slavery Hub brings together existing evidence on these links, aiming to support informed decision-making and reduce vulnerability to all forms of modern slavery in the context of climate change.
Now we’re into the two-year countdown to the Centennial of the UN Slavery Convention, we are proud to unveil the Climate Change & Modern Slavery Hub designed to equip policymakers, researchers, and practitioners with the knowledge and tools to address this growing issue. This hub aims to help the global community by:
- Providing a comprehensive knowledge base on the links between climate change, migration, and modern slavery
- Offering an interactive map and resources for easy access to information
- Supporting policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in taking informed decisions while developing effective strategies
- Highlighting gaps in current understanding and areas for further research
- Promoting the integration of modern slavery considerations in climate change and migration actions
What can you do?
Find out more about the Hub by clicking this link and exploring the research and resources that we have pulled together to date. Share this Hub with colleagues and friends on LinkedIn or X, and if you’re heading to COP29 and you’d like to be in touch with our colleagues, send us a message on Linkedin.