Myers's widely cited work on 'climate refugees' has been criticised by social scientists, and migration scholars in particular. Professor Myers himself admitted that his estimates, although calculated from the best available data, required some "heroic extrapolations", In April 2011, the UN was reported to have distanced itself from Myers's forecasts in 2005 that the total number of climate refugees would reach 50 million by 2010.
Social scientists and migration scholars have criticized Myers's work on 'climate refugees'. Professor Myers acknowledged that his estimates were based on the best available data but included some "heroic assumptions". In April 2011, the UN indicated a departure from Myers's forecast of 50 million climate refugees by 2010.