By 2050, environmental and climate change-induced migration movements could increase significantly in several regions of the world. " Therefore, we are seeing an increasing interest in the topic in general - in the public as well as in science," explains Patrick Sakdapolrak from the Department of Geography and Regional Research at the University of Vienna. Until now, however, there has been a lack of an international platform of exchange among the various research fields, according to the population geographer.
With the Environmental & Climate Mobilities Network (ECMN), which was initiated this year together with colleagues from Wageningen University, Liège University and the United Nations University, a platform for inter- and transdisciplinary exchange on climate and environmental migration has now been created. "On the one hand, the network is about solid cooperation between researchers, but it is also about communicating the scientific results to decision-makers and practitioners," says Sakdapolrak.
Overview of the research landscape
From the outside, it is often difficult to get a clear picture of the very diverse research landscape: "The fact that climate and environmental change lead to displacement does not necessarily apply always and everywhere," Sakdapolrak explains, adding that there is a wide range: "Migration can also be seen as an adaptive effort; certain approaches examine precisely those problems that arise because opportunities for migration are blocked." The impact of environmental or climate stress on existing migration patterns is also an important area of research, for example in pastoralism or (semi-)nomadic lifestyles, he says.
The research community and the field of research on environmental and climate migration has expanded greatly in the last 20 years, and there is also a great diversity in terms of methodology: "This ranges from quantitative modeling, political science, critical social science to development research," says Harald Sterly, senior scientist in Sakdapolrak's research group.
Against this background, an annual conference of the new network is intended to stimulate discussions, networking and cooperative transdisciplinary research, and to strengthen the exchange with media, politics and society. "In this way, we aim to give new momentum to ongoing debates and drive transformative solutions," says Sakdapolrak. More than 300 participants (130 in presence, 180 online) are expected to attend the launch event, which will take place from July 10 to 12, 2023, at the University of Vienna.
- Environmental & Climate Mobilities Network ECMN23 Conference
- 10 - 12 July 2023, Department of Geography and Regional Research, University of Vienna
- https://www.climatemobilities.network/ecmn23/
- https://www.climatemobilities.network/
