In a progressively uncertain world where just this year, we saw political chaos, economic disarray, accelerated climate change and the rise of COVID-19, look no further than these climate-resilient countries to keep safe.
What is Climate Resilience?
There is no denying it — the global climate is shifting, with human activity being a critical factor in the rampant hastening of climate change over the last 100 years. Despite growing efforts worldwide, we as a species are facing significant side-effects from increasingly extreme weather, ocean warming and acidification, to prolonged periods of drought and extreme temperatures. The ability to prepare for, recover from, and adapt to these effects is called “climate resilience.”
Which Countries Are Pioneering Climate Resilience?
The anticipated climate changes in the future will affect all segments of society, both human and natural. Proactive adaptation builds capacity to respond to this unpredictability, and a few countries are leading the way in becoming climate-resilient countries to keep safe.
Canada
Often at the forefront of climate-related issues, Canada has formalised a plan to meet its emissions reduction targets, grow the economy and build resilience in the face of climate change. These measures include:
- Accessibility to climate change information
- Investing in both built and natural infrastructure that protects from climate-related disasters
- Implementing strict building codes to increase the resiliency of buildings and infrastructure
- Addressing the direct effects of climate change on the health of citizens
- Increasing support to areas that are particularly vulnerable to climate change
- Ensuring the long-term health and resilience of ecosystems and the natural environment
How Can I Immigrate to Canada?
Canada has the most fresh water and resources in the world, so it is no wonder that the country attracts newcomers. With a relatively small population, immigration is encouraged. Some of the most popular routes to residency and citizenship in Canada are the Express Entry System, the Provincial Nominee Programme and family sponsorship.
Currently, one-fifth of Canada’s population is born outside of the country. Between 2018 and 2019, Canada’s population saw a growth of 1.4 percent due to its immigration friendly policies, which equates to more than one person per minute – the highest since 1990.
Dominica
Following the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017, this robust island nation, known as Nature Isle, has been focussed on constructing climate-resilient housing, funded by the country’s Citizenship by Investment Programme. Since the vast majority of Dominica’s infrastructure exists along with narrow coastal areas made of mostly wood and galvanised sheeting, residential housing finds itself in a perilous position in extreme weather. Furthermore, this funding has provided a much-needed lifeline in the form of Dominica’s ‘housing revolution’, which predicts over 5,000 hurricane-proof homes to be built across the island for displaced families.
Further to this, all real estate resorts linked to Citizenship by Investment are constructed with strict adherence to building codes and regulations, ensuring that they too are climate-resilient and safe.
How Can I Immigrate to Dominica?
Over the years, Dominica has made great strides in attracting people from all over the world via their Citizenship by Investment Programme. The Programme, in turn, continues to fund imperative projects, crucial to the survival and resilience of the Caribbean nation and its people.
The Dominica Citizenship by Investment Programme allows approved individuals the opportunity to invest in government-approved or a in exchange for full citizenship for themselves and their families. Investors are provided with the opportunity to reside in and hold a second passport of a climate-resilient nation.
Also read: Dominica is Building A Climate-Resilient Future
New Zealand
With a long coastline and diverse landscape, both the people of New Zealand as well as their economy are vulnerable to extreme weather, sea-level rise and other climatic events. In response to these threats, the country has launched its Framework for Adapting To Climate Change. This framework initially addresses two focus areas, namely, the restoration and protection of sand dunes to curtail any further degradation, and the raising and widening of the State Highway 16 causeway in West Auckland (part of the Western Ring Route Road of National Significance) to pre-empt future sea-level rise.
How Can I Immigrate to New Zealand?
New Zealand offers a wide range of visa options, depending on your qualification. The main categories are family, work, investment or study.
New Zealand’s net migration rate was 11.4 per 1,000 people in 2019, presenting an annual net migration of about 56,000 for a population of about 4.9 million. This rate is similar to Australia’s in 2017–18 but more than triple recent migration rates in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Germany
Germany’s adaptation strategy, adopted in 2008, is continuously being updated to assist the country in concentrating on key priorities for the coming years. These include rising temperatures, increased dry spells and low groundwater level. This government has also prioritised developing a “vision for a climate-resilient Germany 2060” which will address water, infrastructure, land use and health issues.
How Can I Immigrate to Germany?
There are four basic categories of residence permits issued by German authorities:
- Residence permit (limited-time residence title, with or without employment)
- EU Blue Card (limited-time residence title, highly qualified)
- Settlement permit (permanent residence title)
- EU permit for permanent residence (permanent residence title)
Germany is the second most popular migration destination in the world, after the USA. By UN estimates, as of 2017, over 12 million people living in Germany are immigrants or their descendants, which is about 14.8% of the German population.
