Minister Fernando López participated in the presentation on Human Mobility and Climate Change in El Salvador, an event organized by the Vice Ministry of Diaspora and Human Mobility, the United Nations Organization for Migration (IOM), and the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador.
«Environmental and migration issues are closely linked. As a country, due to our geographical location, we are increasingly susceptible to the adverse effects of hydrometeorological phenomena, which are becoming more frequent and extreme,» stated Minister López. «Environmental and climate factors are recognized as key components influencing global migration flows. Migration has evolved—from rural to urban areas and then to other countries. Therefore, this situation requires a comprehensive approach that considers the relationship between human mobility, the environment, and climate change.»
The Minister emphasized that public policies, such as the National Climate Change Plan and Nationally Determined Contributions, recognize the connection between these phenomena and outline specific actions in areas like agriculture and biodiversity to enhance the country’s ability to respond to natural events. «We are executing projects aligned with environmental sustainability to benefit the most vulnerable populations. A notable example is our participation as co-executors in the #Semillas project.»
Minister López also highlighted ongoing efforts, such as the study presented by IOM today, which aims to characterize vulnerability and the effects of climate change and environmental degradation. «The information shared today is of great relevance to enrich the activities of Pillar 6 of the Coordination Mechanism and guide the work of our institutions in general,» he said.
Concluding his remarks, Minister López underscored the importance of each effort in protecting ecosystems and adapting to climate change: «Every effort we make strengthens not only our communities but the entire country, helping mitigate the impacts of increasingly frequent hydrometeorological events. El Salvador is changing, and the environmental aspect remains a fundamental pillar for our nation’s development.»
At the event, Minister López received a copy of the study, Characterization of Vulnerabilities and Climate Change Effects in Prioritized Districts of El Salvador and Its Relation to Human Mobility, conducted by IOM in the areas of San Francisco Menéndez, Jiquilisco, and San Miguel.