Palau is strengthening its capacities on climate mobility through a regional training program hosted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Palauan Government’s Office of Climate Change. The Pacific Climate Mobility Training, held from January 13 to 15, brought together over twenty national institutions to enhance knowledge and skills on climate mobility, planned relocation, and adaptation planning in the context of climate change.
The three-day training supports Palau’s ongoing efforts to address the impacts of climate change on communities, land, and livelihoods, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and other climate-related risks. It is designed to equip government officials and civil society organizations with practical tools, regional experiences, and policy approaches to manage climate mobility in a rights-based, inclusive, and forward-looking manner.
Erbai Matsutaro, Head of the Office of Climate Change, emphasized the importance of reframing climate mobility during the opening of the training, stating that it is not only about moving communities but also respecting the decision of those who choose to stay. “For many communities, remaining in place is a deliberate and meaningful decision rooted in land, culture, and identity. Respecting climate mobility means upholding the agency of those who stay, as well as those who move,” Matsutaro said.
The training focused on key topics such as climate mobility concepts in the Pacific, planned relocation processes, legal and governance frameworks, community engagement, financing mechanisms, and lessons learned from regional experiences. Special attention was given to Palau’s national priorities, including the implementation of its National Migration Policy and Action Plan, particularly the domain related to internal planned relocation in the context of climate change.
Ewa Naqvi, Chief of Mission for the IOM Coordination Office for the North Pacific, highlighted the broader objective of the training, underlining the importance of dignity and choice in climate mobility responses. “Climate mobility done well is not about moving people. It is about protecting agency and ensuring that no one is left with only one option. Whether to stay or to move, the choice must be informed, supported, and dignified,” Naqvi said.
The regional training also aimed to deepen participants’ understanding of climate mobility issues, equip policymakers and community leaders with insights on best practices, support national and regional policy development, foster cross-sectoral dialogue, and enhance capacity to contribute to global climate negotiations and national adaptation strategies. By improving technical knowledge, coordination, and planning capacities, the training helps Palau build a coherent and prepared response to climate-induced mobility, ensuring that relocation and adaptation measures are inclusive, well-planned, and aligned with the country’s long-term development and resilience goals.
This training is part of Phase II of the Pacific Climate Change Migration and Human Security (PCCMHS) program, which supports Pacific Island countries in addressing climate mobility through policy development, capacity-building, and regional cooperation. The program is implemented by IOM in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the International Labour Organization, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, and the Platform on Disaster Displacement, with funding support from the New Zealand Aid Programme.
