European Institute for Human Rights

Tag: Migration

  • Climatic and Environmental Factors Matter for Internal European Net Migration: A Panel Regression Analysis of 19 European Countries from 2004 to 2019

    Climatic and Environmental Factors Matter for Internal European Net Migration: A Panel Regression Analysis of 19 European Countries from 2004 to 2019

    This study explores the connections between climatic and environmental factors and internal net migration in Europe, addressing a topic that has received growing political, academic, and public interest.

    Previous research has focused mainly on the Global South or on international migration in the Mediterranean region, but this study concentrates on internal migration within 19 European countries between 2004 and 2019, using municipalities as the unit of analysis.
    Using panel regression models, the authors examine the relationship between internal net migration and a wide range of climatic factors (sunshine, temperature, precipitation) and environmental indicators (pollution, vegetation, wildfires), while controlling for economic drivers.

    The authors find that climatic and environmental factors significantly contribute to explaining internal migration patterns, with strong regional and national differences. These factors have the greatest explanatory power in Southern Europe but also matter in other regions.

    This also supports the concept of amenity migration, suggesting that Europeans move toward more favorable and away from less favorable climatic and environmental conditions. It becomes evident that climate- and environment-related migration is already a reality within Europe and should be recognized as such to ensure that mobility remains voluntary and adaptive rather than forced or maladaptive.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-025-02484-9

    Reference

    Link, A.-C., & Brenner, T. (2026). Climatic and environmental factors matter for internal European net migration: A panel regression analysis of 19 European countries from 2004 to 2019. Regional Environmental Change, 26(1)

  • Climate-Induced Migration: A Growing Concern for Global Food Security and Nutrition

    Climate-Induced Migration: A Growing Concern for Global Food Security and Nutrition

    Climate-induced migration has emerged as a critical challenge to global food security and nutrition, particularly in regions with fragile agricultural systems and limited adaptive capacity, and this review synthesizes recent evidence on the interconnections between climate change, migration, and food insecurity, focusing on the pathways through which environmental stressors drive displacement and alter access to adequate and nutritious food.

    It highlights how extreme weather events, land degradation, and resource scarcity disrupt agricultural livelihoods, leading to both voluntary and forced migration.

    It also explores how these movements reshape dietary patterns, increase malnutrition among migrants and host communities, and deepen socioeconomic inequalities.

    By analyzing policy gaps and resilience mechanisms, the authors propose an integrated framework that aligns climate adaptation, migration governance, and food-nutrition policies.

    It concludes with recommendations to strengthen climate-resilient food systems, improve institutional responses, and support vulnerable populations in achieving sustainable food and nutrition security in the context of increasing climate mobility.

    Learn more about this review here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foohum.2025.100954

    Reference

    Aremu, V. T., Adedeji, B. O., Ojediran, T. K., & Ajayi, A. F. (2026). Climate-induced migration: A growing concern for global food security and nutrition. Food and Humanity, 6

  • Safeguard Intangible Cultural Heritage

    Safeguard Intangible Cultural Heritage

    Proposal:  Reclaiming Living Heritage for Community Resilience and Adaptation in Europe

    Implementation:  2026 to 2030

    Call: HORIZON-CL2-2025-02-TWO-STAGE – Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society – 2025 – Two-stage

    Type of Action: HORIZON-RIA – HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

    Keywords: Social issues, lifestyle migration, unsustainable tourism, community displacement, digital innovations, cultural threat assessment, climate change mitigation strategies

    Objective: The project is designed to safeguard intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in Southern Europe against pressures to residents and traditional communities from mass tourism, lifestyle migration, and climate change. The project begins by diagnosing vulnerabilities of ICH through a comprehensive assessment that includes ethnographic research, demographic analysis, and geospatial mapping. This phase culminates in the creation of a digital observatory for real-time community-informed monitoring of cultural spaces and practices. 

    Following the diagnostic work, the project focuses on empowering communities through educational programs and workshops, with a special emphasis on engaging youth and marginalized groups. These activities use creative co-creation and digital storytelling to revitalize and transmit local traditions. The project also involves the co-creation of digital tools.

    These user-friendly, AI-supported platforms allow communities to document and share their heritage, effectively creating “digital micro-museums.” This ensures that local knowledge and narratives guide the safeguarding process. Finally, it translates its findings into actionable governance and policy frameworks. By engaging policymakers and community representatives, the project aims to integrate ICH into urban planning, climate adaptation strategies, and social cohesion frameworks, ensuring that cultural heritage is a central part of sustainable development.

    Partners:

    • Idener Research & Development Agrupacion De Interes Economico
    • European Institute for Human Rights (Young Educators)
    • Centro Studi E Ricerca Impacto Ets
    • Impact Hub Srl
    • Kneia Sl
    • Asociación Para La Investigación, El Diseño Y La Innovación
    • Tcic Ab
    • IAFM – Instituto Andaluz De Formación Y Mercado
    • Universitat Jaume I De Castellon
    • The Dataflow Company
  • Digital Transformation & Social Inclusion

    Digital Transformation & Social Inclusion

    Proposal: Reinventing Opportunities to Overcome underachievemenT in Stem

    Implementation: 2026 to 2029

    Call: ERASMUS-EDU-2025-PI-FORWARD – FORWARD-LOOKING PROJECTS

    Type of Action: ERASMUS-LS – ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants

    Proposed Budget: 720 872,16€

    Keywords: equality, diversity, inclusion, education, innovation, stem, equal opportunities, non discrimination, equity, gender equality, disability, migration, health

    Objective: The project’s primary objectives include the development and dissemination of innovative methodologies, the advancement of educators’ professional competencies, and the creation of inclusive learning environments that respond to the needs of underrepresented groups. Through a series of structured activities, including transnational training sessions, the co-creation of open educational resources, and the piloting of novel curricula, the consortium aims to facilitate meaningful exchange of knowledge and best practices among participating institutions.

    Targeting educators, learners, vocational training providers, and policy stakeholders, the project adopts a holistic and collaborative approach that aligns with the overarching priorities of the Erasmus+ Programme: inclusion and diversity, digital education, environmental sustainability, and active citizenship.

    The anticipated outcomes include enhanced institutional cooperation, the production of transferable and scalable educational models, and the empowerment of educators and learners to engage more fully in the social and economic life of their communities.

    Ultimately, the project aspires to contribute to the European Education Area by promoting excellence, equity, and innovation across educational sectors.

    Partners:

    • Università Degli Studi Di Genova
    • European Institute for Human Rights (Young Educators)
    • Help Code Italia
    • Universidade De Coimbra
    • Asociacion Building Bridges
    • Cankaya Universitesi Vakfi Türkiye
    • Kodluyoruz Dernegi
  • Evidence of Climate and Economic Drivers Affecting Migration in an Unequal and Warming World

    Evidence of Climate and Economic Drivers Affecting Migration in an Unequal and Warming World

    Climate conditions, in complex interrelations with other socioenvironmental, economic, political and cultural factors, significantly play a key role in shaping population density and movement. But these dynamics remain poorly understood.

    This study examines how climate conditions, together with socioenvironmental, economic, political, and cultural factors, shape international migration patterns.

    Using temperature-related climate indices, the authors assess the sensitivity of migration to climate change across 160 countries and regions.

    Results show that mid- to high-latitude countries with cooler baseline climates are projected to experience increased migration inflows, while low-latitude countries are likely to see growing outflows. Climate sensitivity is strongest in higher-GDP countries, whereas lower-GDP countries show less dependence on baseline climate.

    A predictive model combining climate and GDP projections suggests that low-GDP, low-latitude countries will face worsening conditions and increasing migration pressure by the end of the century.

    The study’s results underscore the growing role of economic factors and calls for the integration of climate justice into migration policy to support vulnerable populations in a warming world.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02811-2

    Reference

    Yang, X., Chen, D., Wahab, I. et al. Evidence of climate and economic drivers affecting migration in an unequal and warming world. Commun Earth Environ 6, 782 (2025)

  • Vulnerabilities of Climate Change-Induced Displacement and Migration in South Asia

    Vulnerabilities of Climate Change-Induced Displacement and Migration in South Asia

    South Asian countries are particularly vulnerable to climate change, a region particularly vulnerable to climate hazards, and where people rely heavily on livelihoods sensitive to the environment, such as agriculture or fishing, which can constantly lead to a risk in the decline of living standards.

    As such, climate threats promote inequality among people and destroy assets and infrastructure.

    Following this evidence, this study’s primary goal is to investigate the different aspects and severity of vulnerabilities brought on by displacement and migration brought on by climate change in South Asia.

    The themes covered are, in general, rapid urbanisation and the resulting hardships; health-related vulnerabilities; job and livelihood uncertainties; conflicts, security, and human rights issues; and effects on women, children, and older people.

    It concludes with policy recommendations, at least for South Asian countries, deemed essential but still lacking implementation, to save people from future danger.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s44282-025-00237-x

    Reference

    Harun, M., Rahman, A., & Ferdous, J. (2025). Vulnerabilities of climate change-induced displacement and migration in South Asia. Discover Global Society, 3(1)

  • Climate-Induced Migration and Climate Immobility in Ghana: A Socio-Ecological Mixed Method Study

    Climate-Induced Migration and Climate Immobility in Ghana: A Socio-Ecological Mixed Method Study

    The drivers of climate-induced migration and climate immobility among rural and peri-urban residents in northern and Upper East Ghana are investigated in this paper, where climate stressors such as flooding, extreme heat, windstorms, and drought create both voluntary and involuntary mobility, as well as situations of being “trapped”, despite a desire to move.

    Using an embedded concurrent mixed-methods design, the study surveyed 2,125 participants and conducted 21 interviews across 12 communities in the Talensi and Savelugu districts. Multilevel regression analysis and comparative thematic analysis were used to identify the socio-demographic and experiential factors associated with climate migration and immobility.

    Results showed that 21.7% of respondents had experienced climate-induced migration, while nearly half (49.9%) were climate immobile, reporting no intention to relocate despite climate stress. Older age groups and lower income were associated with higher likelihood of climate immobility. In contrast, individuals who perceived their health as worsening were significantly more likely to migrate.

    Qualitative findings highlighted recurring displacement, with some communities experiencing floods up to 14 times per year due to Bagre Dam spillages.

    The authors conclude that national and local governments must strengthen the adaptive capacities of climate-vulnerable populations to better address both mobility and immobility under climate stress.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmh.2025.100364

    Reference

    Appiah, S. C. Y. (2025). Climate-induced migration and climate immobility in Ghana: A socio-ecological mixed method study. Journal of Migration and Health, 12, 100364

  • Global Climate Migration is a Story of Who and not Just How Many

    Global Climate Migration is a Story of Who and not Just How Many

    Understanding the impact of climate change on human migration is critical for policymakers, but it can both incentivize people to migrate and reduce their ability to move, making its effect ambiguous.

    Following this evidence, the authors propose an approach to studying migration that combines causal inference methods with cross-validation techniques to reliably estimate effects of weather on migration within and across borders, an approach that highlights the key role of migrant demographics in the weather-migration relationship.

    They show that allowing climate effects to vary by age and education improves predictive performance more than fivefold compared with assuming uniform effects. This demographic heterogeneity explains much of the variation in migration responses.

    Their projections suggest that climate change will have much larger effects on future cross-border migration for most demographic groups than the average effect indicates. However, differing responses across groups tend to offset one another, shaping the overall migration outcome.

    Learn more about this paper here: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62969-3

    Reference

    Benveniste, H., Huybers, P. & Proctor, J. Global climate migration is a story of who and not just how many. Nat Commun 16, 7752 (2025)

  • The European Union’s Governmentality of Climate-Induced Migration: A Need for Reconceptualization

    The European Union’s Governmentality of Climate-Induced Migration: A Need for Reconceptualization

    Given the significant, irreversible impact of climate change on human migration, policy corresponding to the specific needs of these situations would already be expected to exist. But, although the EU is a leading actor in climate governance, the author finds that its policymaking reflects a more limited and fragmented approach to climate migration.

    So, in this study, how the European Union conceptualizes climate-induced migration is examined, a growing global challenge that calls for more inclusive protection frameworks.

    Using content analysis, the author examined 62 legal and policy documents published between 2009 and 2024. The use of climate change and migration-related concepts, both separately and interrelatedly, is analysed using MAXQDA through both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The research was also supported by Michel Foucault’s governmentality perspective.

    Findings show that the EU’s conceptualization of climate-induced migration and its use of a human rights–based approach remain limited. It is concluded that the EU’s governmentality of climate-induced migration is characterized by slow and constrained policymaking, and the need for a more holistic and rights-based framework is highlighted.

    Learn more about this paper here: https://doi.org/10.1111/imig.70095

    Reference

    Bozkaya, Ö. (2025). The European Union’s Governmentality of Climate-Induced Migration: A Need for Reconceptualisation. International Migration, 63(5)

  • How does the Climate Change and Migration Nexus Result in Maladaptation?

    How does the Climate Change and Migration Nexus Result in Maladaptation?

    The characteristics and causes of ineffective migration and how such movements can lead to maladaptation were researched in this article.

    Based on a systematic review of 89 studies, the analysis considers impacts on migrant households, destination communities, and origin communities, including those left behind and trapped populations.

    It is explained how climate-influenced migration can lead to persistent poverty, food insecurity, inequality, exclusion, and social isolation, driven by low income, limited skills and education, weak remittance flows, unequal access to rights, and language barriers.

    The paper demonstrates how the phenomena can undermine local livelihoods and harm both sending and receiving communities, asserting that a clearer understanding of maladaptive migration is essential for policymakers seeking to manage climate-induced mobility more effectively.

    Learn more about this paper here: https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2025.2518298

    Reference

    Khavarian-Garmsir, A. R., Sharifi, A., Sadeghi, A., & Allam, Z. (2025). How does the climate change and migration nexus result in maladaptation? Climate Policy, 1–16

  • Is Climate Change a Valid Reason for Migration? Evidence from a Conjoint Experiment

    Is Climate Change a Valid Reason for Migration? Evidence from a Conjoint Experiment

    Is climate change perceived as a legitimate reason for long-term immigration? And under what conditions this perception holds?

    Using a conjoint experiment with a quota-representative sample of Dutch respondents, the research explores public attitudes toward climate migrants.

    Study results show that climate migrants are viewed more favorably than economic migrants but less favorably than asylum seekers fleeing persecution. Contrary to expectations, political ideology and climate attitudes do not significantly moderate these views.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1080/17457289.2025.2514195

    Reference

    Faure, M., Kantorowicz, J., & Weiss, A. (2025). Is climate change a valid reason for migration? Evidence from a conjoint experiment. Journal of Elections, Public Opinion and Parties, 1–22

  • Becoming a Climate Migrant: Climate Change and Sequential Migration Decision-Making

    Becoming a Climate Migrant: Climate Change and Sequential Migration Decision-Making

    When and how does someone living through climate crisis decide to migrate? This article theorizes climate migration through an ethnographic case study from northeastern Colombia during a period of prolonged drought.

    Results demonstrate that migration decisions in the context of climate crisis are not single events, but part of a sequence of repeated choices to stay or leave. The number of previous decisions to stay shapes the likelihood of migration, alters the severity of climate impacts needed to trigger movement, and leads to different categories of migrants. These decisions are influenced by households’ material and social resources, as well as their subjective experiences of time under climate stress.

    The study also identifies two main types of climate migrants – adaptive migrants and distress migrants – and also highlights individual strategic migrants as a strategy for household immobility.

    Overall, it argues for a sequential model of climate migration that recognizes multiple pathways and outcomes of mobility and immobility.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1093/socpro/spaf027

    Reference

    Brianna Castro, Becoming a Climate Migrant: Climate Change and Sequential Migration Decision-Making, Social Problems, 2025

  • The Magnitude of Climate Change-Induced Migration: An Overview of Projections and a Case for Attribution

    The Magnitude of Climate Change-Induced Migration: An Overview of Projections and a Case for Attribution

    While it has been vastly proved that weather and climate affect migration, few studies have attempted to project future impacts or attribute past migration patterns to climate change.

    In light of this, in this paper the existing projections of climate change impacts on human migration are reviewed.

    A comparison reveals that projections for international migration from African countries differ by up to two orders of magnitude, while for internal migration even the direction of change is uncertain. None of the existing models adequately explain historical migration trends, limiting confidence in their forecasts.

    The authors then discuss two modeling approaches: econometric models, which identify marginal climate effects but are limited for long-term projections, and total migration models, which can capture complex dynamics but are difficult to constrain.

    In the end, they suggest that future improvements may come from better understanding nonlinear responses to increasingly extreme climate conditions.

    Learn more about this paper here: https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2025.1570995

    Reference

    Schewe, J., & Beyer, R. (2025). The magnitude of climate change-induced migration: An overview of projections and a case for attribution. Frontiers in Climate, Volume 7

  • The Nexus Between Migration and Environmental Degradation Based on Fundamental Climate Variables and Extreme Climate Indices for the MENA Domain

    The Nexus Between Migration and Environmental Degradation Based on Fundamental Climate Variables and Extreme Climate Indices for the MENA Domain

    According to the authors of this study, environmental migration has recently become the primary source of population growth in the Middle East and North Africa, as environmental degradation from extreme events has created the environmental refugee concept with a variety of manners affecting lives.

    In line with this, they propose to investigate how environmental degradation and climate extremes influence migration in the MENA region, using a hybrid approach that combines regional climate modeling (RegCM4.4) with statistical analysis (ordered logit). The analysis covers 65 countries and projects impacts for the periods 2021–2050 and 2051–2080.

    The study assesses how key climate variables – maximum and minimum temperatures and precipitation – along with indicators such as hot days, tropical nights, and dry days, affect net migration rates.

    Findings show that minimum temperatures are projected to increase in all major cities, while precipitation is expected to decline in mid-latitude and Mediterranean regions.

    Statistical results indicate a positive relationship between rising minimum temperatures and net migration, and a negative relationship between precipitation and migration. These trends suggest that worsening heat and water scarcity may encourage migration toward cooler regions.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cliser.2025.100564

    Reference

    An, N., Demiralay, Z., Ucal, M., & Kurnaz, M. L. (2025). The nexus between migration and environmental degradation based on fundamental climate variables and extreme climate indices for the MENA domain. Climate Services, 38

  • Unveiling the Interrelations Between Migration, Climate Change, and Energy Transitions in the Context of Socioeconomic Disparities

    Unveiling the Interrelations Between Migration, Climate Change, and Energy Transitions in the Context of Socioeconomic Disparities

    The interplay between migration, climate change, energy transitions, and socioeconomic inequality are examined in this paper, highlighting their influence on regional resilience and sustainable development.

    Through an analysis of existing literature, it investigates how migration is shaped by environmental stress, energy challenges, and economic inequalities, emphasizing the dual role of migration as both a response to and a driver of climate change.

    Additionally, it analyzes the relationship between energy systems and migration, focusing on how energy access, transitions, and sustainability efforts influence socioeconomic conditions, particularly in vulnerable regions. Key gaps are also identified in the literature, especially concerning the social and economic impacts of these interconnected processes.

    Results suggest that energy transitions can either reduce or intensify regional inequalities and shape resilience to climate-induced migration.

    The authors conclude by advocating for a more integrated policy and research agenda that links climate migration, energy security, and socioeconomic equity.

    Learn more about this paper here: https://doi.org/10.3390/en18071625

    Reference

    Łukaniszyn-Domaszewska, K., Mazur-Włodarczyk, K., & Łukaniszyn, M. (2025). Unveiling the Interrelations Between Migration, Climate Change, and Energy Transitions in the Context of Socioeconomic Disparities. Energies, 18(7), 1625

  • The Impact of Climate Change on Forced Migration in the Sahel: Human RightsPerspective (Nigeria as a Case Study)

    The Impact of Climate Change on Forced Migration in the Sahel: Human RightsPerspective (Nigeria as a Case Study)

    Noticing how climate change casts a shadow on Nigeria’s Sahel region, driving environmental degradation, disrupting livelihoods, and displacing communities, with grave consequences, leaving the most vulnerable in the society square up against human rights abuses in their search to escape their environmental misfortune, the authors saw imperative to study the phenomena.

    This narrative review examines the human rights dimensions of climate change–induced migration in Nigeria’s Sahel region, where environmental degradation, livelihood disruption, and displacement have intensified. Anchored in environmental migration theory, a human rights–based approach, intersectionality theory, and governance and policy theory, it explores the drivers, impacts, and potential solutions to this complex issue.

    Droughts, desertification, and erratic rainfall were identified as major environmental factors forcing communities to migrate. Climate change is shown to severely affect livelihoods and food security, raising serious human rights concerns related to access to food, water, health, and education, particularly for vulnerable groups.

    Study results emphasize the need for a comprehensive response that combines climate mitigation and adaptation, stronger legal protections for climate migrants, humanitarian assistance, and investment in sustainable development, and it is concluded that improved collaboration and policy action among stakeholders are essential to address root causes, protect human rights, and ensure that equity and inclusion guide all interventions.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.3968/13313

    Reference

    Nenger, Jerome A., Nancy U. Odimegwu and Casmir N. Nwankwo (2024), “The Impact of Climate Change on Forced Migration in the Sahel: Human Rights
    Perspective (Nigeria as a case study)”, Canadian Social Science
    Vol. 20, No. 1, 2024, pp. 23-31

  • Preparing for Climate Migration and Integration: A Policy and Research Agenda

    Preparing for Climate Migration and Integration: A Policy and Research Agenda

    Recent research on climate migration is reviewed in this paper, including projections of future migrant numbers, while introducing a typology that distinguishes strategic migrants, disaster migrants, managed relocation, and trapped populations.

    Drawing on migration theory and research on immigrant and refugee integration, the author proposes that wealthy countries allocate additional visas to poorer countries affected by climate change, partly as a form of climate justice.

    These visas could enable strategic migrants to establish social networks that facilitate further migration and eventually support disaster migrants and relocated communities through co-ethnic relations.

    The author also draws on refugee studies to identify key questions about how best to integrate disaster migrants in the future.

    Additionally, the growing link between climate denialism and anti-immigrant sentiment within right-wing movements is examined.
    It is argued that planning for the successful integration of climate migrants is essential, not only for humanitarian reasons but also to maintain the social trust needed for effective climate mitigation.

    Learn more about this paper here: https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2024.2438449

    Reference

    Waters, M. C. (2025). Preparing for climate migration and integration: a policy and research agenda. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 51(1), 4–23

  • Drought and Aridity Influence Internal Migration Worldwide

    Drought and Aridity Influence Internal Migration Worldwide

    While the effects of climate change on migration have attracted wide attention, comparative evidence on their role in internal migration remains scarce.

    Using census-based data from 72 countries (1960–2016) and 107,840 migration flows between subnational regions, this study shows that increased drought and aridity significantly influence internal migration, particularly in hyper-arid and arid regions of Southern Europe, South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and South America.

    It is evident that migration patterns are shaped by the wealth, agricultural dependence, and level of urbanization of both origin and destination areas, with stronger responses in rural and agricultural regions.

    And although climatic effects on migration are generally stronger in richer countries, poorer regions tend to experience higher out-migration toward wealthier areas within the same country.

    Furthermore, age and education groups respond differently to climatic stress, revealing distinct mobility patterns across population subgroups and geographic contexts.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02165-1

    Reference

    Hoffmann, R., Abel, G., Malpede, M. et al. Drought and aridity influence internal migration worldwide. Nat. Clim. Chang. 14, 1245–1253 (2024)

  • Effects of Climate Change on Migration in Latin America and Caribbean: A Scoping Review

    Effects of Climate Change on Migration in Latin America and Caribbean: A Scoping Review

    Climate change-induced natural disasters such as hurricanes, landslides, forest fires, and changes in precipitation directly affect rural sectors that depend on field production and other dimensions of everyday life.

    This scoping review examines the health effects of climate change on environmental migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean, a region where evidence on this topic remains limited.

    The review analyzes 31 studies identified from PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

    Findings show that climate change affects migrants across three main dimensions: health and healthcare, psychosocial well-being, and infrastructure. Health impacts include limited access to care, underdiagnosis, increased disease vulnerability, and mental health conditions such as stress and anxiety.

    Psychosocial effects involve heightened risks of gender-based violence, social marginalization, family separation, and loss of cultural identity, while infrastructural impacts include environmental degradation and the destruction of agricultural and urban systems.

    The review also documents adaptive responses among migrant populations and offers recommendations for improvement, highlighting the significant and multidimensional consequences of climate change for migrants in the region.

    Learn more about this review here: https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2024.1412285

    Reference

    Cabieses, B., & Huerta, C. (2024). Effects of climate change on migration in Latin America and Caribbean: A scoping review. Frontiers in Climate, Volume 6-2024

  • Climate Change and Migration: A Review and New Framework for Analysis

    Climate Change and Migration: A Review and New Framework for Analysis

    Seeing how most climate-related migration research remains overly environment – centric, a new interpretive framework is introduced in this article.

    The proposed framework considers five pathways through which climate change may influence migration: short-term shocks, long-term climatic changes, environmental “pull” factors, climate adaptation and mitigation measures, and perceptions and narratives.

    While reviewing evidence across these pathways, the study finds that short-term shocks can both increase and reduce migration, while long-term trends provide only a weak basis for predicting future dynamics.

    Nonetheless, it notes that the latter three pathways remain underexplored, by researchers and policymakers alike.

    Overall, the framework and evidence reviewed suggest a broader and more nuanced understanding of climate-related migration than that reflected in recent IPCC assessments and much of the existing literature.

    Learn more about this article here: https://doi.org/10.1002/wcc.886

    Reference

    Daoust, G., & Selby, J. (2024). Climate change and migration: A review and new framework for analysis. WIREs Climate Change, 15(4)

  • Climate Change and Migration: Climate Change Induced Migration in International Law and the Human Right to a Sustainable Environment

    Climate Change and Migration: Climate Change Induced Migration in International Law and the Human Right to a Sustainable Environment

    As droughts, floods, sea-level rise, and other climate change induced phenomena are substantially threatening lives and livelihoods, forcing many to abandon their homes, despite the global dimension of these increasing phenomena, international legal instruments remain insufficient to deal with environmental migration, leaving those affected under insecure circumstances, and many unresolved issues.

    In an attempt at clarification on this complex problem, this paper discusses the difficulties surrounding climate-induced migration in international law and explains why the term “climate refugee” is not yet accurate or legally recognized. The case study of Ioane Teitiota v. New Zealand is used to show how these theoretical challenges affect individuals in practice.

    The paper concludes by exploring alternative approaches that move beyond existing legal frameworks, suggesting a shift toward integrating migration into climate adaptation strategies.

    It suggests that such efforts could be supported through adaptation funding and strengthened by emerging international legal developments, including the pending advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.25365/vlr-2023-7-1-94

    Reference

    Karnicar, Carina (2023), “Climate Change and Migration
    Climate Change Induced Migration in International Law and the Human Right to a Sustainable Environment”, University of Vienna Law Review, Vol. 7 No. 1 (2023)

  • Migration, Climate Change, and Voluntariness

    Migration, Climate Change, and Voluntariness

    Climate change challenges the means of subsistence for many, particularly in the Global South. To respond to the challenges of climate change, governments increasingly resort to resettling those most affected by land erosion, heat, drought, floods, and the like.

    In this article, the author investigates to what extent resettlement can compensate for the harm that climate-induced migration brings, and questions whether such measures can address the deeper ethical consequences of displacement.

    What are designated as three central harms are identified. First, climate change alters people’s options to such an extent that migration can no longer be considered fully voluntary and may even become coercive. Second, climate-induced migration severs individuals’ ties to territory, which are constitutive for personal autonomy. Third, the loss of traditional and historical lands undermines people’s capacity to imagine a future.

    It is concluded that although resettlement may improve material well-being and human flourishing, it cannot fully compensate for the harm done to individual autonomy, even when relocation is planned and chosen.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0892679423000412

    Reference

    Straehle, C. (2023). Migration, Climate Change, and Voluntariness. Ethics & International Affairs, 37(4), 452–469

  • Climate Migration: A Gendered Perspective

    Climate Migration: A Gendered Perspective

    This article examines climate-induced migration through a gender-sensitive perspective, drawing attention to how pre-existing social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities create a greater likelihood of being forced to move due to the impacts of climate change.

    This can be particularly true for women and girls who face intersectional and structural discrimination, which shapes their resilience, adaptation, and migration experiences.

    This gender dimension remains largely overlooked in research, data collection, and legal frameworks on climate change migration. The lack of gender-sensitive statistics and legal protections contributes to ongoing invisibility, vulnerability, and inadequate protection for affected populations.

    Therefore, the author analyzes the potential, recent developments, and limitations of international legal frameworks in addressing climate migration from a gender-responsive perspective, emphasizing the need to integrate gender considerations into protection mechanisms for climate migrants.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.3233/EPL-239008

    Reference

    Borràs-Pentinat, S. (2023). Climate Migration: A Gendered Perspective. Environmental Policy and Law, 53(5-6), 385-399

  • Climate Change, Vulnerabilities, and Migration: Insights from Ecological Migrants in Bangladesh

    Climate Change, Vulnerabilities, and Migration: Insights from Ecological Migrants in Bangladesh

    This study examines the interaction between environmental hazards and non-environmental factors that drive migration, augmented by the struggles they face and their urban survival strategies.

    It focuses on Aila-induced migrants living in a slum in Khulna city, challenging the idea that environmental hazards alone explain migration from coastal areas.

    Instead, it asserts that migration results from a convergence of multiple factors, like environmental stress, socio-political and economic vulnerabilities, and proximity to ecologically fragile regions. Although initially driven by subsistence needs, migration becomes a longer-term strategy for many marginalized individuals.

    It is also emphasized how migrants form strong place-based networks that support their adaptation to urban life and help them cope with urban challenges, as well as the complexity of climate-induced migration and the need for comprehensive and context-sensitive policy responses.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1177/10704965231211589

    Reference

    Uddin, M. J. (2023). Climate Change, Vulnerabilities, and Migration: Insights from Ecological Migrants in Bangladesh. The Journal of Environment & Development, 33(1), 50-74

  • Climate Change and the Public Health Imperative for Supporting Migration as Adaptation

    Climate Change and the Public Health Imperative for Supporting Migration as Adaptation

    As human mobility has reached unprecedented levels in an era of accelerating global climate change, it is acknowledged that many cases of human migration in the context of climate change are forced or involuntary, particularly where adaptation measures have failed to achieve sufficient resiliency of communities against disasters.

    There are also many cases where migration is, itself, a voluntary adaptive measure to secure otherwise unattainable physical safety and life-sustaining resources.

    But, although climate migration is often approached as a human rights issue, it is noted that the public health community has been less unified and vocal on the topic.

    This paper, developed by the World Federation of Public Health Associations’ Environmental Health Working Group, seeks to address this gap by analyzing adaptive climate migration through a public health lens.

    The authors argue that creating an enabling environment for adaptive climate migration is not only a human rights imperative but also a public health necessity. They support this claim by showing how such environments can strengthen core public health services and functions, as outlined in the Global Charter for the Public’s Health.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmh.2023.100174

    Reference

    Marcus, H., Hanna, L., Tait, P., Stone, S., Wannous, C., & A product of the World Federation of Public Health Associations Environmental Health Working Group (2023). Climate change and the public health imperative for supporting migration as adaptation. Journal of migration and health, 7, 100174

  • Migration and Climate Change – The Role of Social Protection

    Migration and Climate Change – The Role of Social Protection

    Social protection as a tool for supporting climate-vulnerable populations by reducing livelihood risks and smoothing consumption is examined in this systematic review.

    Drawing on 28 studies, it analyzes how social protection influences migration decisions, experiences, and outcomes in the context of climate change through mechanisms such as cash transfers, public works programs, insurance, and health care.

    Three key ways in which social protection policies are linked to climate-related migration are identified: social protection can ease financial barriers to migration as a strategy to manage climate risks, address adverse drivers that may force maladaptive or distress migration, and support those who remain behind in maintaining their livelihoods.

    Results highlight the potential of social protection to encourage more positive climate-migration outcomes for policymakers, practitioners, and affected communities.

    At the same time, the authors notice important knowledge gaps regarding how social protection can best support vulnerable groups. and further empirical research is called for, especially for the inclusion of social protection in climate and migration policy debates, to support voluntary and planned migration when long-term adaptation is no longer viable.

    Learn more about this review here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2022.100472

    Reference

    Silchenko, D., & Murray, U. (2023). Migration and climate change – The role of social protection. Climate Risk Management, 39, 100472

  • The Future is Now: Climate Displacement and Human Rights Obligations — A Note on Recent Developments in the UN Human Rights Committee

    The Future is Now: Climate Displacement and Human Rights Obligations — A Note on Recent Developments in the UN Human Rights Committee

    Although climate-related litigation has been a growing global concern, the author of this paper notices that climate mobility in itself has seldom been the subject of relevant case law.

    Only human rights bodies in particular have begun to make progress in legal developments in the sphere of climate mobility.

    In this paper, a 2022 determination by the UN Human Rights Committee is examined, which concerns the habitability of a small island setting – Australia’s Torres Strait Islands – under climate change conditions and the legal responsibilities of nation states to abide by their international human rights obligations in implementing timely adaptation measures, which could help to ensure continued habitation.

    Learn more about this paper here: https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2022.1061474

    Reference

    Thornton F (2022) The future is now: Climate displacement and human rights obligations—a note on recent developments in the UN Human Rights Committee. Front. Clim. 4:1061474

  • A Systematic Review of Climate Migration Research: Gaps in Existing Literature

    A Systematic Review of Climate Migration Research: Gaps in Existing Literature

    In this literature review, an analysis is made of how climate-induced migration is framed in academic literature, and key research gaps are identified.

    For this purpose, a systematic review was done of 161 journal articles published between 1990 and 2019.

    Results reveal diverse discourses focusing on policy, climate vulnerability, adaptation, resilience, conflict, security, and environmental issues. Asia emerges as the most studied region, followed by Oceania, indicating a strong research focus on tropical and subtropical areas.

    The authors note that climate – induced migration affects livelihoods, socio – economic conditions, culture, security, and health, but that little is known about the livelihood outcomes of climate migrants in international destinations and their impacts on host communities.

    They conclude by proposing a research agenda and emphasizing the urgent need for coordinated global and national policies to address climate-induced migration as a major global challenge.

    Learn more about this review here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-022-00341-8

    Reference

    Ghosh, R.C., Orchiston, C. A systematic review of climate migration research: gaps in existing literature. SN Soc Sci 2, 47 (2022)

  • Climate Change, Inequality, and Human Migration

    Climate Change, Inequality, and Human Migration

    This paper investigates the long-term effects of climate change on global migration and inequality, having the authors modeled the impact of climate change on productivity and utility in a dynamic general equilibrium framework.

    By endogenizing migration decisions across millions of spatial cells, the study captures the scale and structure of climate-induced migration across regions and education groups.

    Study findings show that climate change intensifies global inequality and poverty, reinforces urbanization, and increases migration from low- to high-latitude areas. Median projections suggest that global warming could lead to the voluntary and forced permanent relocation of around 62 million working-age individuals during the 21st century.

    Overall, it is concluded that under current international migration policies, only a small share of those affected are able to move beyond their home countries, and that while massive international migration is unlikely under most scenarios, climate-driven poverty poses a major global threat.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1093/jeea/jvab054

    Reference

    Michał Burzyński, Christoph Deuster, Frédéric Docquier, Jaime de Melo, Climate Change, Inequality, and Human Migration, Journal of the European Economic Association, Volume 20, Issue 3, June 2022, Pages 1145–1197

  • A Global Child Health Perspective on Climate Change, Migration and Human Rights

    A Global Child Health Perspective on Climate Change, Migration and Human Rights

    The growing impacts of anthropogenic climate change on human displacement and child health are vast, and the need for immediate collaborative action and policy change to reduce carbon emissions is imperative.

    Climate-related disasters and extreme weather events are already disrupting livelihoods, economies, population health, and human rights, creating large-scale migration and displacement crises with serious consequences for children.

    Displacement and migration, both within and across national borders, have significant physical and mental health effects on children, who are particularly vulnerable due to their developmental immaturity and dependence on others for safety and resources. Although they bear little responsibility for the climate crisis, children face some of its most severe consequences, raising concerns about social and intergenerational injustice.

    In this paper, the role of pediatric health care providers in caring for displaced children and advocating for those most at risk is emphasized.

    It offers a global perspective on climate change, including how its impacts reflect and reinforce colonial legacies, and provides practical action steps for clinicians in the United States and for those advocating for children’s health worldwide.

    Learn more about this paper here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cppeds.2021.101029

    Reference

    Uddin, R., Philipsborn, R., Smith, D., Mutic, A., & Thompson, L. M. (2021). A global child health perspective on climate change, migration and human rights. Climate Change and Children, 51(6), 101029