Experts: Why migration is ‘not a failure of adaptation’ in a warming world

Hundreds of scientists gathered in London this week to discuss the role of migration as a way for communities to adapt to climate change. The impacts of a warming world, such as sea level rise and worsening extremes, are pushing many people around the world to leave their homes. As a form of climate adaptation, a decision to migrate involves an array of different factors, such as politics, conflict and economic opportunity. The conference unpacked these topics, as well as the impacts of climate change on livelihoods, relocation and gender norms across Africa and Asia. The event had a strong focus on urban areas, with one co-convenor stating that “half of the world’s population now lives in the cities…A lot of the battles of climate adaptation will be won and lost in cities.” Another co-convenor told Carbon Brief that the conference’s “focus really is on the climate change adaptation community, showing that migration is not a failure of adaptation – it is part of adaptation”. Carbon Brief attended the conference to report on the sessions and speak to world-leading experts on climate-driven migration. Migration as adaptation Cities and livelihoods Immobility and relocation Legal pathways Changing narratives Migration as adaptation The two-day conference on “mobility in adaptation to climate change” was held at Wellcome’s headquarters in London. It gathered more than 100 leading experts in migration, adaptation and climate change from countries across Europe, Africa and Asia. On day one of the conference, co-convenor Prof Neil Adger, a professor from the University of Exeter, told Carbon Brief: “Our focus really is on the climate change adaptation community, showing that migration is not a failure of adaptation – it is part of adaptation.” In his opening address, Adger highlighted that there were still many unknowns on climate migration – such as how and when it is an appropriate way to adapt to climate change, and who benefits and loses in these situations. Prof