Guided Review – Climate Change and Migration
Climate Change, Migration, and Adaptation
Overview:
In this guided review, you will explore the fundamental concepts of climate change, the role humans have played, and the consequences human populations are already beginning to face. This review seeks to examine the inequitable impacts climate change has on Indigenous people, racial minorities, and other marginalized communities. In it, you will also find community responses to climate change and learn the importance of incorporating Indigenous knowledge and community input into climate change adaptation strategies.
Objectives:
Understand the fundamentals of climate change.
List and describe the factors that lead to climate migration.
Identify strategies being used by communities impacted by climate change.
Consider the complexities of the decisions surrounding climate migration.
The University of British Columbia's Climate Literacy Course explores the basics of climate change and policy. (Source: UBC)
Overview:
Earth’s climate has always been subject to change, but the changes of the past century stand out for their increased rate and severity. This rapid climate change is leading to temperature increases, sea level rise, and the rapid intensification of hurricanes. These phenomena and the other consequences of climate change are already evident and will continue to strengthen over time.
Objective:
Understand the fundamentals of climate change.
Read:
Reference Material: “Climate Change: How Do We Know?”
In this summary from NASA's Earth Science Communications Team, you will find a comprehensive overview of the evidence, causes, and effects of climate change. Navigate the article using the tabs in the page’s heading. Reflect on the following questions:
- How have human activities contributed to the Earth’s accelerated warming?
- According to the page titled “Effects,” how will the different regions of the United States be impacted by climate change over time?
Guide: "Climate Literacy: the Essential Principles of Climate Science"
In this guide produced by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, you will find information valuable for understanding Earth’s climate, the impacts of climate change, and approaches to adaptation or mitigation. Reflect on the following questions:
- Review page 13. What is the difference between climate variability and climate change, and why is it important to know how to differentiate these two concepts?
- Review page 16. Why might some of the consequences of climate change be less obvious than others?
Watch:
Video (RT 4:09): “Climate Change 101 with Bill Nye”
In this short video produced by National Geographic, you will learn the basics of climate change, its causes, and its outcomes. Reflect on the following questions:
- Why are the oceans listed as some of the “biggest victims” of climate change?
- What are some of the potential economic impacts of climate change?
Video (RT 1:30): “NASA’s Earth Minute: Sea Level Rise”
In this video created by NASA's Earth Science Communications Team, an explanation of the relationship between climate change and sea level rise will expand your understanding of the impacts of global warming. Reflect on the following questions:
- What is the primary reason for global sea-level rise?
- What are the long-term ramifications of sea level rise, and which communities will be most affected by them?
Video (RT 3:22): “How climate change makes hurricanes worse”
In this short video from Vox, you will explore the correlation between human-driven climate change and the intensification of hurricanes. Reflect on the following questions:
- What do the IPCC’s climate models suggest about the global occurrence of hurricanes at the end of the century compared to today?
- How does climate change influence precipitation during storms, and what impact might this have on communities that are already at risk of flooding?
Explore:
Video: "What people get wrong about climate change"
In this video from Vox, you will find a new perspective on impending effects of climate change. Reflect on the following question:
- What does this video purport will be the likely outcome for humans if climate change persists unchecked?
Deep Dive Course: “Climate Literacy”
In this free online course developed by The University of British Columbia, the instructors cover everything from the basics of the climate system to evolution of climate policy. Browse the available lectures and find a selection that is of interest to you. Reflect on the following questions:
- Why is it important for an individual to be climate literate?
- Why is climate literacy important for a community?
Click here to complete the quiz for this module.
What questions do you still have? Where could you find out more?
A map showing the shift in the human climate niche. (Source: ProPublica)
Overview:
As climate change reshapes the planet, habitable environments are shifting and shrinking. Communities are being faced with decisions about migrating from their homes to areas that are less environmentally vulnerable. In the following resources, you will learn about the factors that can lead to climate migration on an individual or community level.
Objective:
List and describe the factors that lead to climate migration.
Read:
Article: “Climate Justice 101: Climate Migration”
This article from the Climate Reality Project discusses the basics of climate migration. Reflect on the following questions:
- What are the two categories of disasters that typically lead to climate migration?
- Which of these tends to result in a more permanent migration?
Report: "Impacts of Climate Change as Drivers of Migration"
In this report from the Migration Policy Institute, you will read about the influence climate change can have on the already complex decision of whether or not to migrate elsewhere. Reflect on the following questions:
- Aside from climate hazards, what are some of the other factors that contribute to an individual’s decision or ability to migrate?
- What other social, cultural, or economic factors might inhibit someone who wants to migrate from being able to do so?
Watch:
Short Film (RT 8:26): "The Next Wave"
In this short film from mediathatmatters, you will learn about the struggle of the Carteret Islanders, whose home is being enveloped by the surrounding ocean. Reflect on the following questions:
- How did the secondary impacts of sea level rise affect the livelihoods of the Islanders?
- How does the cultural significance of their natural resources affect the Carteret Islanders and their plans?
- This documentary was released in 2009. Where do you think the Carteret Islanders are now? How many other communities might have faced similar impacts since then?
News Segment (RT 8:38): "Climate Change is Killing Crops in Honduras"
In this news segment produced by PBSNewshour, you will learn about the environmental and economical challenges that have forced some farmers to consider migrating from their homes. Reflect on the following questions:
- How are farmers with fewer resources more vulnerable to long term climate stressors?
- What do the current events in Honduras suggest about the impacts of climate change on other regions in the future?
Explore:
Interactive Map: "New Climate Maps Show a Transformed United States"
In this article produced by ProPublica, you will scroll through a series of maps that show the predicted changes climate change will cause in the U.S. Reflect on the following questions:
- After scrolling down past the changing maps, a search bar will appear on your screen. Use the search bar to locate your parish or county of residence. How will climate change impact your community?
- Browse the table listing counties at the bottom of the page. How will “compounding calamities” work against certain regions of the country?
Deep Dive Webinar: "Educators Explore How to Bring Climate Migration Reporting into Classes"
This webinar from the Pulitzer Center and ProPublica addresses climate migration from the perspective of an educator in order to explore the ideal methods for introducing human migration and climate change as two interconnected entities. Reflect on the following questions:
- What does Abrahm Lustgarten say will most likely lead to a mass movement of people, and how would this occurrence relate to the impacts of climate change?
- In what circumstances do you think it would be best to use models or large bodies of data to teach about climate migration? When would it be best to use human narratives?
Click here to complete the quiz for this module.
What questions do you still have? Where could you find out more?
Indigenous People's Resilience Actions Map (Source: DOI)
Overview:
Although climate change is a global concern, its consequences are not distributed evenly. Indigenous communities, who are already marginalized by other factors, are especially endangered by climate change and its stressors. In this module, you will learn what communities on the front lines of climate change are doing to adapt and build resilience.
Objective:
Identify strategies being used by communities impacted by climate change.
Read:
Article: "How to Save a Town From Rising Waters"
In this January 2018 article from Bloomberg CityLab, you will learn about the Isle de Jean Charles Resettlement Project, the first climate-related relocation funded and administered by the Louisiana state government. Reflect on the following questions:
- How did this plan intend to differ from the model used in Diamond, LA in the early 2000s?
- What appear to be the initial costs and benefits of government involvement in this relocation plan?
- How does the Isle de Jean Charles Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Tribe's history with the government influence their decisions and comfort with this endeavor?
Report: "Surviving and Thriving in the Face of Rising Seas"
This report from the Union of Concerned Scientists presents the argument for an equitable framework for community resilience that prioritizes the needs of those most at risk. Reflect on the following questions:
- How do the recommendations listed in this article seek to accommodate communities that are most at risk?
- Are there additional recommendations that should be included in this list?
Article: "Climate action and sustainability: Indigenous peoples are part of the solution"
This article from WIPO Magazine outlines the importance of Indigenous knowledge in working against climate change and introduces several examples of improvements that can be made by incorporating input from Indigenous peoples and their environmental management policies. Reflect on the following questions:
- In the past, how have the six “unique risks” for Indigenous communities hindered their ability to respond to climate change? How has this, in turn, hindered the global climate change movement as a whole?
- Aside from the knowledge to be gained from Indigenous people, why is it the responsibility of those enacting climate policy to incorporate Indigenous knowledge?
Deep Dive Report: "The Taholah Village Relocation Master Plan"
This report produced in 2017 details the relocation master plan of the Quinault Indian Nation. Reflect on the following questions:
- What are the guiding principles of this project, as outlined on page 16? How did the leaders of this project establish these priorities?
- How does this relocation master plan differ from the Isle de Jean Charles Resettlement Project? Who is leading this project, and how might that affect its outcomes?
Watch:
Video (RT 4:09): “How Communities Can Adapt to Climate Change”
This video produced by NOVA PBS makes the argument that adaptation and resilience are vital in combatting the effects of climate change. Reflect on the following questions:
- What do the scientists in this video argue about building resilience and the benefits it will bring for society?
- What requirements come along with building resilience? Explain why this is not an option for every community.
Video (RT 5:16): “New York is building a wall to hold back the ocean”
This video from Vox details one adaptation project being implemented in New York. Reflect on the following questions:
- How is this project using its resources to adapt to climate change? Do all communities have the resources necessary for massive changes to their infrastructure?
- What are some of the challenges associated with a large scale project like this one?
Video (RT 12:52): "Indigenous Knowledge Meets Science"
In this TEDWomen presentation, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim explains the importance of utilizing Indigenous knowledge in the fight against climate change. Reflect on the following questions:
- What does Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim argue science can gain from listening to Indigenous communities?
- Looking back on the two previous videos, how do you think Indigenous knowledge could be utilized to improve the steps being taken toward resilience?
- How can combining different types of knowledge help Indigenous communities in building resilience to climate change? How can this, in turn, help other communities?
Explore:
Interactive Article: "How Native American Communities Are Addressing Climate Change"
In this dynamic article from Science Friday, you can listen to podcast clips, read about various Native American resilience efforts, and explore an interactive map of those action plans. Reflect on the following questions:
- How can Indigenous knowledge be incorporated into government-sponsored management plans?
- According to Dominique M. David-Chavez, how have Indigenous communities been “adapting to climate for a long time?” What can other communities learn from this?
Click here to complete the quiz for this module.
What questions do you still have? Where could you find out more?
Oil infrastructure in Isle de Jean Charles. (Source: The New York Times)
Overview:
Unfortunately, climate migration is not an easy solution. Systemic oppression, personal limitations, and societal pressures can all combine to complicate the predicament of communities facing the decision to migrate. In these resources, you will explore the perspectives of those who have been faced with these decisions, and you will hear from the organizers working to bring climate action in line with environmental and social justice movements.
Objective:
Consider the complexities of the decisions surrounding climate migration.
Read:
Article: "Let's Talk About Climate Migrants, Not Climate Refugees"
This article by Dina Ionesco of the UN Migration Agency explains the reasoning behind avoiding the term “climate refugees,” as well as the need to take action outside of establishing a special refugee status for climate change related reasons. Reflect on the following questions:
- According to this article, how does the phrase “climate refugee” misrepresent climate-related human mobility?
- How are those who leave their homes due to climate stressors in a different predicament compared to refugees escaping wars and conflicts?
Article: "Climate is the Newest Gentrifying Force, and its Effects are Already Re-Shaping Cities"
In this article from Harvard University, you will learn about one of the side effects of climate migration: climate gentrification. Reflect on the following questions:
- How do the three mechanisms of climate gentrification outlined in this article make it more difficult for low-income families to find housing in environmentally stable areas?
- If a low-income family is displaced from their home in a resilient area by climate gentrification, where might that family go? What is the potential ripple effect of climate gentrification on a community?
- Where have you seen examples of climate gentrification?
Press Release: "The Isle de Jean Charles Tribal Resettlement: A Tribal-Driven, Whole Community Process"
In this January 2019 press release from The Isle de Jean Charles Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Tribe, the Tribal Council expressed dissatisfaction with the state of Louisiana’s actions in carrying out the Isle de Jean Charles Resettlement Project. Reflect on the following questions:
- What reasoning is provided for the Tribe’s frustrations?
- How do the state government's actions reflect the state’s history with the Isle de Jean Charles Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw Tribe?
Watch:
Video (RT 12:47): “Climate change will displace millions. Here's how we prepare”
In this TEDTalk presented by Colette Pichon Battle, you will learn about the loss of land and homes that is associated with climate change throughout the world. Reflect on the following questions:
- What does Colette Pichon Battle say about the term “refugee” in relation to climate migration?
- How do new “green-built” houses present an issue for community members that were there prior to their development? How can resilience projects be implemented without further marginalizing groups that are already vulnerable to environmental stressors?
Video (RT 7:03): "Climate Gentrification in Little Haiti"
This video from The Root explores climate gentrification in Little Haiti, a historically black neighborhood in Miami. Reflect on the following questions:
- In what ways does this video support points made in Colette Pichon Battle’s TEDTalk? Is there evidence of climate justice being intertwined with social justice?
- What is your reaction to the points made by Peter Ehrlich in this video? Is his development ultimately helping or hurting the community?
Deep Dive Video (RT 9:14) “The Vanishing Island”
This short film produced by The New York Times follows lifelong residents of Isle de Jean Charles who, despite the encroaching water and intense storms, do not want to leave their homes there. Reflect on the following questions:
- What is the most evident cause of the rapid land loss in Isle de Jean Charles? Does this present an environmental justice issue?
- Why is it important to give community members agency when developing projects that attempt to address climate change issues?
Explore:
Deep Dive Video (RT 16:59): “Why community is our best chance for survival - A lesson post-Hurricane Maria”
In Christine Nieves’s TEDMED presentation, she recounts her experiences in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria and the lessons she learned from them. Reflect on the following questions:
- How was the work described by Nieves different from the projects we have examined previously in these modules?
- In what ways can grassroots efforts combat systemic gaps and work to address environmental justice?
- What lessons can be taken from the community organizing that took place in Mariana following Hurricane Maria?
Article: "Buyouts Won’t Be the Answer for Many Frequent Flooding Victims"
This article published by The Texas Tribune and ProPublica examines the effectiveness of the Home Buyout Program in Harris County, Texas. This program was enacted in order to reduce damage in flood prone areas, but the damaged structures have far outpaced the program’s ability. Reflect on the following questions:
- While buyouts may seem like an obvious solution for flood prone properties, the Home Buyout Program shows that there are a number of logistical issues. What other, more subtle issues are possible with this type of program? Are there social or cultural considerations that the buyout program neglects to address?
- How are the issues with the Home Buyout Program similar to those seen elsewhere?
Click here to complete the quiz for this module.
What questions do you still have? Where could you find out more?
