Climate Mobility: Bridging Research to Policy - Session 1
Type: Virtual Paper
Day: 2/25/2022
Start Time: 2:00 PM
End Time: 3:20 PM
Theme: Climate Justice
Sponsor Group(s):
Human Dimensions of Global Change Specialty Group
, Population Specialty Group
, Hazards, Risks, and Disasters Specialty Group
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Organizer(s):
Alex de Sherbinin
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Chairs(s):
Alex de Sherbinin, CIESIN, Columbia Climate School
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Description:
By now it is widely accepted that climate factors can and do play a role in migration decision making and in shaping migration flows, though the degree of their influence varies depending on local contexts and the kinds of climate impacts experienced. For example, there is a growing recognition that underlying institutional and structural factors (i.e., root causes) shape the way the climate stressors impact local migration decision-making, and that highly inequitable access to resources, markets, and political power structures often set the stage for ensuing migration flows. Added to this nexus are other factors such as conflict, failed states, and breakdown of local law and order that make the decision to migrate/flee one of fundamental safety and security.
The donor and development assistance community, as well as the global policy community (e.g. the Global Compact for Migration), are grappling with these complex nexus issues as they seek to develop policies and programs that reduce the potential for distress or mass migration. Responses to date generally fall into four categories; 1) those that address the livelihood aspects of climate migration -- e.g., by improving the prospects for in situ adaptation; 2) those that seek to facilitate mobility as an adaptation mechanism; 3) those that resettle people in new locations and offer migrant protections; and 4) those that seek to mitigate the impacts of those movements, including environmental impacts, on receiving communities. Unfortunately, programs and policies that address the root causes of decisions to migrate in political, economic and social relations are rare.
The policy community is in dire need of research insights and data from the scientific community in order to guide program and policy responses to these complex “nexus issues”. To be effective, policies need to be based on a solid understanding of the complexity of migration decision-making, and to be grounded in migration theory. This session will explore the many environmental, social, political and economic factors that shape mobility, identifying underlying drivers of the various types of migration – from forced to voluntary to assisted relocation. A major but not exclusive focus will be on how this information can be used to inform policy and programs. Papers are invited that explore the sensitivity of climate mobility to climate stressors; review migration theory; examine approaches to assessing climate impacts on mobility; explore responses by national governments and development actors; review approaches to managed retreat and assisted relocation; and explore social protection mechanisms for those forced to move, among others. Examples of research or programs in low and high income settings are welcome.
Presentation(s), if applicable
Alex De Sherbinin, ; Migration Theory in Climate Migration Research |
Erica Bower, ; Pathways to positive livelihood outcomes in disaster-related planned relocations |
Sarah Rosengaertner, ; Data and Research on Climate Migration: Bolstering Agency – Making Connections |
Md Abdullah Al Mamun, ; Scaling-up inclusive natural climate solutions to restore ecosystems and revitalize folk heritage-based livelihoods for resilient communities |
Non-Presenting Participants Agenda
Role | Participant |
Panelist | Radley Horton |
Panelist | Cascade Tuholske CIESIN, Columbia Climate School |
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Climate Mobility: Bridging Research to Policy - Session 1
Description
Virtual Paper
Contact the Primary Organizer
Alex De Sherbinin - adesherbinin@ciesin.columbia.edu