People on the move: how climate change impacts lives

Who are climate migrants? And why are their numbers rising? Discuss what's driving the crisis – and what can be done to address it.

Collage of pages from the “People on the move: how climate change impacts lives” teaching resource showing the cover and lesson plan

Published 27 June 2025

About this lesson

In May 2025, 83.4 million people were living in internal displacement – forced to flee their homes but remaining within their own countries. Many were displaced by extreme weather, drought or floods.

Globally, around 3.3 billion people are highly vulnerable to climate change and experts predict over 200 million people may be displaced by 2050.

Use this lesson to help students:

  • Learn what it means to be a “climate migrant”
  • Explore how climate change is driving displacement across the globe
  • Discuss potential solutions and ways to support affected communities

These teaching resources were created in collaboration with IOM. The Economist Educational Foundation maintained full editorial control

Skills and knowledge

  • Creativity

    Step 1: I imagine different situations and can say what I imagine
    Did you consider the different news stories and say what you imagined it would be like?

    Step 8: I develop ideas by using mind mapping
    Did you make notes around the posters to develop your ideas?

    Step 10: I develop ideas by considering different perspectives
    Did you consider different perspectives when looking at the news stories?

  • Knowledge

    I know what climate change is and that it can cause people to leave their homes and communities
    What are some of the cause of people becoming climate migrants and what can be done to help them?

Available downloads

Create an account or log in to access resources for this

Create account Login

Related resources

View all resources