Towards Transformative Climate Relocation Initiatives

Abstract

Climate-induced changes will become an increasingly important factor in development patterns and where people choose to live. Assisting residents as they make decisions about staying and whether or if to move, and where to go, will become a critical dimension of climate adaptation policy. Using global cases of relocation initiatives, this article examines how adaptive relocation policy can facilitate community-led opportunities for frontline communities—communities of color and those with lower incomes—as people move from and stay in risky environments. It then summarizes factors to consider when designing relocation initiatives to lead to outcomes that improve people's well-being.