Salsalina Larasati, Deputy Director for MYCP’s Research and Innovation (formerly Climate Mobility Research lead shares her reflections from the World Bank Fragility Forum

“How can topics perceived as ‘sensitive’ be actionable?” This was the question Salsalina carried with her to the Forum, especially around climate mobility, an area where legally binding instruments are still being developed. 

Her interest in the issue is deeply personal. Growing up, she heard stories from older generations in her family about climate change causing crop failures. They were villagers who settled in the city, but the process was tough, especially with limited resources. She credits their resilience as migrants that ultimately led her here at the forum and explore ways to co-create global solutions. Uniquely enough, they share the same village as IOM Youth Changemaker Kornelius Sembiring, whom she interviewed through her work as MYCP’s Climate Mobility Research Lead. She shares his stance: “If there’s any movement from any part of the organization in the world, please include us… especially grassroots, indigenous, and underrepresented family backgrounds.” 

She views climate change as a form of fragility that becomes an aggravating factor when contextualised in conflict, war or violence. Echoing Ms. Ugochi Daniels’ (Deputy General for Operations in the IOM) emphasis on climate action and human mobility as agendas of stability and peace, she sees climate mobility as a development issue, where the gap is no longer about evidence but absence of mechanisms that translate climate mobility risks into investable solutions and financing.

She believes that implementation must be linked to local contexts, and that young people have a role in using their voices, alliances and knowledge in shaping practices and building momentum towards international recognition of climate mobility. As MYCP’s Climate Mobility Research Lead, this means working alongside affected youth, understanding their local contexts, creating safe spaces for their aspirations, and connecting their experiences to global migration policymaking. 

“Climate action and human mobility are not just an environmental agenda, but stability and peace, increasing the mobility agenda.”

—  Ugochi Daniels.