Access to education, good health, a secure livelihood and accountable governments, combined with a fair environment that rewards effort, may persuade people that they can pursue their goals at home. They are also some of the major goals of development. Though development also enables migration when people feel their ambitions are blocked at home.

Climate change, rising inequality, digital transformation and the COVID-19 pandemic of work are having a radical impact on human mobility. Climate change and environmental degradation alone could result in anywhere between 25 million and 1 billion displaced people by 2050.

The core message arising from this report has never been more urgent: the need to strengthen legal pathways to migration, to protect the rights of migrants, to make remittances cheaper, to tackle climate change, inequality and other drivers and to put our collective humanity at the centre of human mobility.

Call to action

A fact-based understanding among the general public of the pros and cons of human mobility is vital for human development. Easing concerns and anxieties rather than polarizing opinions will help the debate.

Read more about Human Mobility by downloading the report and share your stories of migrant friendly businesses and organisations by shouting out your local heroes on social media #HumanMobility.