Climate Migration and Integration: A Policy and Research Agenda

Climate Migration Overview

Climate change will increase human migration, both internally and internationally, as seen with plants and animals shifting towards poles or higher elevations.
Research focuses on the number of people moving, the speed and orderliness of migration flows, destinations, and whether to create a 'climate migrant' category for legal protection.

Climate change manifestations include sea level rise, droughts, heatwaves, wildfires, crop losses, intense storms, and flooding, which can lead to migration.
Flood disasters have quadrupled and drought events have tripled since 1980.
Climate mobilities include forced, sudden flows from disasters and more orderly, purposeful mobility similar to regular immigration flows.
Migration scholars propose studying ‘climate mobilities,’ including immobility as a response to environmental changes.
Migration takes resources, and the poorest people often lack the capacity to migrate.
By 2070, one third of the global population will live in a climate with a mean annual temperature greater than 29°C if migration does not occur.

Migrants follow social networks, typically moving short distances, making internal migration more common.
Integration of immigrants is more successful when receiving communities are prepared.

Disaster Migration: Large, sudden, chaotic migration due to disasters like fires, floods, and storms.
Strategic Migration: Individuals choosing to move due to perceived impossibility or high costs of staying in place because of climate change.
Managed Retreat: Organized movement of communities away from hazards, especially in low-lying island nations.
Trapped Populations: People who cannot or will not move, facing increasing failures in adapting to changing conditions.

Debates exist around creating a new legal category for climate migrants, with some scholars arguing for amending the Refugee Convention.
The Platform on Disaster Displacement provides best practices for states dealing with displaced people.
The International Organization for Migration defines climate migration as movement due to sudden or progressive environmental changes.
No country currently offers a legal pathway to permanent migration based on climate change exposure.
Visas could be issued to countries facing disaster, strategic, and managed retreat migration, without individuals needing to prove climate change as the direct cause.

Strategic migrants taking up visas can benefit disaster migrants and trapped populations through economic remittances and established communities.
Economic remittances can be used to adapt in place for those who do not move.
Developed countries facing population declines and aging populations could benefit from increased migration to ease labor shortages.
Declining cities can attract migrants by advertising opportunities and providing support, as seen in Buffalo, NY, following Hurricane Maria.

Disaster and managed retreat migrants share similarities with refugees, making refugee integration strategies relevant.
Key research areas include decisions about migrant locations, fostering contact with natives, prioritizing work or training, mental health services, and political leadership framing.
Positive contact with refugees leads to more positive attitudes among the native population.

Dire predictions about climate migration can negatively impact support for both immigration and climate mitigation efforts.
Right-wing parties often link anti-immigrant sentiments with climate skepticism, challenging nationalist ideologies.
Climate change requires trust in science, government, and generalized social trust, while immigration can decrease social trust in the short run.

Successful immigrant integration requires equal contact between natives and immigrants, slower immigration growth, and leadership that frames immigrants as a benefit.
Policymakers should prepare destination locations by increasing opportunities for regular migration and facilitating successful integration.
Investment in institutions that help integrate migrants and strengthen government capacity for facilitating integration.