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Crisis or adaptation? Migration and climate change in a context of high mobility

ED's Human Settlements Group, cecilia.tacoli{at}iied.org

The impacts of climate change are likely to affect population distribution and mobility. While alarmist predictions of massive flows of refugees are not supported by past experiences of responses to droughts and extreme weather events, predictions for future migration flows are tentative at best. What we do know is that mobility and migration are key responses to environmental and non-environmental transformations and pressures. They should therefore be a central element of strategies of adaptation to climate change. This requires a radical change in policy makers’ perceptions of migration as a problem and a better understanding of the role of local and national institutions in supporting and accommodating mobility.

Key Words: climate change • income diversification • migration • mobility • population distribution

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Environment and Urbanization, Vol. 21, No. 2, 513-525 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0956247809342182


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Tacoli, C. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?