Speaking of ‘choice’ in the context of people being forced to move amidst the climate crisis can feel audacious. What options do people displaced by climate impacts really have? Their decisions are made under conditions of uncertainty, amid shrinking options for migration and mobility and dwindling international solidarity.

However, this issue reminds us not only why we should work towards more choice but also provides us with insights into how this could be done better. The contributors critically reflect on challenges and solutions from across the world: from innovative approaches in climate financing in the Philippines and the vital role of refugee leadership in governance structures in Uganda and Pakistan, to rights-based planned relocations in Latin America, Africa, the Pacific, and across Asia as a complex process requiring careful consideration of cultural ties, livelihood reconstruction, and community participation to avoid merely shifting vulnerability to a new location. The issue also investigates the use of digital technologies to inform climate displacement responses and critically assesses migration pathways, decent economic opportunities, and sustainable livelihoods in high-income countries like Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

From rising sea levels threatening coastal populations to the intensifying frequency and severity of natural hazards, the climate crisis is rendering homes uninhabitable and futures uncertain for millions – especially for those who have been least responsible for its causes. Collectively, the contributions to this issue emphasise that responses to climate displacement must be proactive, rights-based and human-centered, moving beyond reactive measures. The international aid system, however, is undergoing a rapid transformation, driven significantly by sustained and severe cuts in aid budgets. This situation should give even more urgency to questions of how international solidarity is organised, and who participates in its decision-making.

At the Robert Bosch Stiftung, our objective is to shape migration policy, governance and practice in a manner that upholds human dignity through far-sighted, inclusive approaches. Whether it is our work on access to climate finance, on mechanisms that support agency and choice, or on translating policy into action, we believe centring affected communities as integral partners is essential to forging effective and just pathways forward.

Hannes Einsporn
Senior Expert Migration, Robert Bosch Stiftung

Jassin Irscheid
Project Manager Migration, Robert Bosch Stiftung

 

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