According to research, well-managed migration can play a role in advancing sustainable development. Sustainable development involves improving well-being in ways that fairly meet the needs of both present and future generations.
Despite this potential, migration is often perceived as a threat to stability and security, with the benefits for migrants and host nations overlooked. Research from the University of Exeter suggests that there’s a need for new policies to effectively manage migration. These policies should aim to maximize sustainability and minimize involuntary displacement resulting from conflict or disasters.
The studies draw evidence from various locations, including Thailand, Pacific island nations, the world’s largest refugee camps, and cities in Europe and America.
Transforming communities
“Migrants can be a transformative force in their new locations, bringing energy and ideas that can boost economies—including the green transition,” the researchers explain. “However, poorly managed migration can deepen inequality and increase environmental damage.”
Right now, how we handle sustainability and migration is like dealing with two separate things. We need new rules that look after both people and the planet, now and in the future.
Usually, when we study migration, we focus on folks running away from conflict or disasters. But it’s crucial to think about how migration affects both the places people leave and where they go.
Lifetime migrants
More than a billion people are what we call “lifetime migrants” – living far from where they were born. But only a quarter to a third of them go across borders. Most move within their own countries, looking for a better life.
Yet, about 10% of these migrants don’t move by choice. They’re forced out by things like conflict or climate change. But the real story isn’t in the averages; it’s about these involuntary migrants causing big challenges in specific nearby places.
Some recent studies shed light on this. For instance, one looked at three atoll islands in the Pacific. It found that how people feel they “belong” affects how sustainable their societies are. People leaving these areas help by putting less pressure on local resources, and their ties still support their home communities.
Another study focused on Florida, where rising sea levels might make people move away, starting with the younger, working-age folks. This could create problems in new cities and leave older people in coastal areas. These studies show us how migration, sustainability, and societies are all tangled up together.
