A recent study emphasizes the vulnerability of trapped populations in climate-risk zones, advocating for tailored policies to help them adapt or migrate. It sheds light on the barriers faced by communities such as Rohingya refugees and calls for comprehensive recommendations to address their challenges. The research underscores the importance of understanding involuntary immobility in developing effective disaster risk strategies.
Individuals residing in informal settlements, impoverished urban areas, refugee camps, prisons, and war zones are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and natural hazards. A recent study published in Nature Communications emphasizes that policymakers should implement targeted strategies to aid these “trapped populations” either through adaptation in their current locations or facilitating migration when desired.
Lead author Lisa Thalheimer, a researcher at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, notes that involuntarily immobile populations are diverse and deeply exposed to various climate threats. The study highlights the challenges these individuals face, such as cultural and legal barriers, limited humanitarian assistance, and constraints imposed by conflict and poverty.
One case study featured in the research is that of nearly 1 million Rohingya refugees, who fled genocide in Myanmar beginning in 2017. Now stateless, they find themselves in densely populated camps in southeastern Bangladesh, facing severe risks from landslides, coastal flooding, and other climate impacts.
The researchers assert that current climate mobility studies predominantly concentrate on populations that are mobile, overlooking those unable to move. Co-author Andrew Kruczkiewicz from the Columbia Climate School’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness emphasizes the importance of focusing on involuntary immobility to better comprehend the effects of climate variability on vulnerable groups.
The study outlines several critical recommendations, including: identifying the main drivers of involuntary immobility among marginalized communities, reviewing their adaptation and resilience capabilities against natural hazards, and establishing a global support mechanism for those affected by involuntary immobility. This research involved diverse international contributors and was initiated during the 2023 Managed Retreat Conference at Columbia Climate School.
The study highlights the pressing need for dedicated policies aiding populations unable to leave high climate-risk zones. It underscores that a deeper understanding of involuntary immobility is essential for crafting effective strategies to address climate vulnerability. Recommendations provided by the researchers call for a multi-faceted approach to support affected communities and ensure their voices are included in decision-making processes.
Original Source: news.climate.columbia.edu
