Internal and international climate-induced migration, gendered inequalities and governance: understanding migration decisions, exploring migration experiences

Introduction

The World Bank estimates that climate change will force 216 million people to leave their homes by 2050. Using UN data, the Australian think tank IEP calculates that 1.2 billion people risk being displaced by 2050 because of ecological threats.

The Challenge of Climate-Induced Migration

Beyond alarmist projections of which we need to be wary, we know little about the articulation of internal and international climate-induced migration. Once those on the move cross borders, they become labour migrants, asylum seekers, or undocumented migrants, with climate-related causes rendered invisible.

Lack of Recognition for Climate Migrants

In the absence of any internationally recognized status for climate migrants, it remains unclear what proportion of international migration flows are also caused, at least partially, by changes in people’s natural environments that relate to climate change.

Gendered Inequalities in Migration

Importantly, we know even less about the gendered inequalities that permeate these forms of mobility. To fill this crucial gap, GENDEREDCLIMATEMIG explores climate-induced internal and international migration, and their articulation, from a gendered perspective.

Methodology and Case Studies

This project employs an interdisciplinary, comparative, and participatory methodology. It will produce highly informative ethnographic case studies in three middle-income countries and regional migration hubs:

1. Mexico
2. Morocco
3. Malaysia

Additionally, it will conduct a multi-sited and gender-sensitive inquiry into the current state of climate migration governance at international (e.g., Platform on Disaster Displacement) and national levels, exploring original national policy initiatives (e.g., in Norway, Peru, and Kenya).

Insights into Climate Migration

The qualitative and participatory methodology of this research promises to lend unique insights into the decision-making processes, trajectories, and lives of climate migrants through a gendered lens.

Conclusion

GENDEREDCLIMATEMIG will advance our understanding of the under-researched climate-migration-gender nexus while carving out more space for migrants’ voices.