A conceptual model of climate change and human mobility interactions
Key insights:
- Different pathways connect climate change, climate adaptation & migration. Some lead to more- and some lead to less mobility.
- In some cases, mobility is an effective strategy to adapt to climate change by leaving highly exposed areas, seeking less climate sensitive livelihoods & supporting their family & community with remittances.
- But in other cases climate shocks can undermine people’s ability to move and trap them in places where they are highly exposed.
- In yet other cases, people might decide to stay, even though they are facing dire prospects.
- The effects of climate change on mobility decisions will depend on a number of factors: First, individual characteristics like age, gender or disability influence people’s ability to adapt to climate change & to benefit from mobility opportunities.
- Second, people face very different conditions when it comes to accessing relevant information & different capitals (physical, human, social, etc.) that facilitate climate adaptation & mobility.
- Third, opportunities for both, adaptation & mobility are shaped by a number of conditions in people’s political, social, cultural, economic, legal & technological environment.
- For example, land ownership can increase people’s capacity and incentives to adapt in situ, while access to social networks & the presence of strong diaspora ties are crucial for adaptation strategies betting on mobility & remittances.
- Hence, context & people’s position in society matter a great deal when it comes to possible interactions between climate change & migration. The paper discusses important factors to consider here.
