Msc. Research Topics

Perceptions and tipping points in climate change-driven migration

PLUS

Potential supervisors

Reckien; (Keeton)

Spatial Engineering

This topic is adaptable to Spatial Engineering and it covers the following core knowledge areas:

Spatial Planning for Governance (SPG)

Suggested Electives

Risk-sensitive planning studio; Local Climate Planning (Elective in Q6)

Additional Remarks

Description

The last decades have seen an increase in migration from rural areas that are vulnerable to climate change and climate variability. Each passing year seems to set a new record for migrating populations, partly driven by the conflicts and humanitarian crises that are deeply interrelated with environmental changes. The IOM (International Organization for Migration), World Bank, and Brookings Institute all agree that both sudden weather events and so-called ‘slow events’ such as desertification, ocean acidification and sea-level rise will contribute to more climate migrants in the near future (Brown, 2008; Podesta, 2019; Rigaud et. al., 2018). With more and more people on the move, it is critical to frame a better understanding of the perceptions that inform their decision-making process.
This research topic will collect and analyze climate change-driven migration perceptions in one of five primary sites: Ghana, Mali, Ethiopia, South Africa or Thailand. What are common perceptions among mobile populations? What does the migration decision-making process entail? And what is the tipping point when (rural) land becomes uninhabitable and leaving becomes inevitable?

Objectives and Methodology

The thesis will contribute to, and build on the preliminary results from the HABITABLE project, which collects, analyzes, and compares perceptions of climate change among migrating populations in Ghana, Mali, Ethiopia, South Africa and Thailand. In conversation with the supervisors, the student will select a location from among the primary sites, developing a strong argumentation for their choice. They will then compose a literature review on perceptions of climate change among migrating populations in the selected region.
Working with local partners, the student will combine empirical and analytical data to build a comprehensive analysis of local climate change-driven migration perceptions. The main research questions that will be addressed are: What are the perceptions of rural residents who choose to migrate as a result of climate change (in the selected location) and how do they inform their choices? What ecological, financial, or social tipping points can be identified and how could this inform future migration policy?
Potential data collection and analysis techniques may include interviews, observation, geospatial technologies, or Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping, as well as more innovative techniques. The analysis will incorporate a gender-sensitive lens and take a multidisciplinary approach to develop a deeper understanding of why and when local populations choose to migrate.
Ultimately the thesis will provide an analysis of perceptions among the selected migrating population. It will develop tipping point scenarios and policy recommendations as the final output.