Climate-driven movement of people is adding to a massive migration already under way around the world. The once-stable climate that people have lived in for millennia is now rapidly shifting. Extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, are forcing many people to flee their homes. Meanwhile, slow-onset changes such as sea level rise and droughts are forcing many to make the difficult decision to leave in search of a better life. The UN International Organization for Migration has suggested that as many as 1 billion environmental migrants will leave their homes in the next 30 years. There is currently no accepted international protection regime for “climate refugees” who flee as a result climate impacts. At the same time, controlling and stopping migration through security measures such as building walls and militarizing borders have become the ‘go-to’ policy options for many countries, especially in the wealthy countries of the North.
This program will examine the complex relationship between migration and climate change, compare different theories about the predicted surge of climate migration and analyze current policies that aim to restrict the movements of climate-related migration in the name of security. Drawing on recent theoretical advances and critical studies from different world regions, students will develop a critical engagement with different frameworks for exploring the climate migration nexus. Students will also explore issues of climate and mobility justice from a North-South perspective and the state of the current global policy development in the field.
Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:
8 - Refugee and Migration Studies
4 - Climate Change
4 - Immigration and Asylum Policy
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Academic Details
Government, Public Policy, Law, Immigration, International Politics