Over the last decade, the global number of displaced persons has nearly doubled, whereas the number of people displaced by crises and conflicts or natural disasters within their country (IDPs) has increased even more. But they often leave their homes for more than just one reason. In addition to climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic is also exacerbating the known drivers of displacement and irregular migration: war, persecution, poverty and lack of prospects.

The independent Commission on the Root Causes of Displacement was mandated by the German Federal government in July 2019 to identify the main causes of displacement and irregular migration and to develop recommendations how to effectively mitigate them. The commission consisted of 24 experts from academia and practice.

In its report, the Commission presents comprehensive recommendations to the German government and the German parliament (Bundestag) for future activities at the national, European and international levels. 15 key recommendations are highlighted and should be prioritized in the upcoming legislative term.

Outlining concrete measures on how to reduce the root causes of irregular migration and displacement as well as the difference that the German government can make, this report, inter alia, contributes to GCM objective 2, along with the GCM cross-cutting themes of whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches.