Published October 28, 2011 | Version public
Journal Article

Preparing for Resettlement Associated with Climate Change

  • 1. ROR icon Columbia University
  • 2. ROR icon Harvard University
  • 3. ROR icon Sciences Po
  • 4. ROR icon Brookings Institution
  • 5. ROR icon French Development Agency
  • 6. ROR icon University of Florida
  • 7. ROR icon Wageningen University & Research
  • 8. ROR icon California Institute of Technology
  • 9. ROR icon International Organization for Migration
  • 10. ROR icon Hohai University

Abstract

Although there is agreement that climate change will result in population displacements and migration, there are differing views on the potential volume of flows, the likely source and destination areas, the relative role of climatic versus other factors in precipitating movements, and whether migration represents a failure of adaptation (1, 2). We argue that climate change mitigation and adaptation (M&A) actions, which will also result in significant population displacements, have not received sufficient attention. Given the emergence of resettlement as an adaptation response, it is critical to learn from research on development-forced displacement and resettlement (DFDR). We discuss two broad categories of potential displacement in response to (i) climate impacts themselves and (ii) large-scale M&A projects. We discuss policy approaches for facilitating migration and, where communities lack resources to migrate, suggest guidelines for organized resettlement.

Additional Information

© 2011 American Association for the Advancement of Science. Authors acknowledge funding from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Agence Française de Développement.

Additional details

Identifiers

Eprint ID
27790
DOI
10.1126/science.1208821
Resolver ID
CaltechAUTHORS:20111115-150538849

Funding

Rockefeller Foundation
Agence Française de Développement

Dates

Created
2011-11-15
Created from EPrint's datestamp field
Updated
2023-03-02
Created from EPrint's last_modified field