June 11 program will explore environmental drivers of displacement and risks facing migrants
A growing number of people around the world are being forced to leave their homes not only because of conflict or economic hardship, but also because of environmental conditions that make daily life increasingly difficult. A webinar scheduled for June 11 at 7:00 p.m. will take a closer look at this often-overlooked reality and the challenges it creates for those on the move.
The program, co-sponsored by the Laudato Si’ Movement New Jersey Chapter and Waterspirit, will focus on how climate change, pollution, and resource extraction are contributing to both internal and cross-border migration and how those same conditions continue to affect migrants even after they arrive in a new location.
While immigration remains a prominent issue in public discourse, the environmental factors driving migration are not always well understood. In many cases, individuals and families are displaced by rising sea levels, extreme weather events, or degraded land that can no longer sustain livelihoods. Once they relocate, migrants often settle in areas that present additional environmental risks, including exposure to pollution or vulnerability to climate-related impacts. Many also take on work in industries where exposure to extreme heat, pesticides, and other hazards is common.
The webinar is intended to broaden understanding of these issues and encourage a more informed and compassionate response.
Waterspirit, a nonprofit organization rooted in spiritual ecology and founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, is based in Rumson, New Jersey. The organization works to promote awareness and action around environmental justice and care for the Earth.
The June 11 webinar is open to the public. Those interested in attending can register online here.
.