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Challenges
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Climate Change and Migration: Navigating Intersecting Crises
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Climate Change and Migration: Navigating Intersecting Crises

A special issue of Challenges (ISSN 2078-1547). This special issue belongs to the section "Climate Change, Air, Water, and Planetary Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 3675

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Alessandro Indelicato

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Applied Economics, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Interests: fuzzy hybrid approach

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate-induced migration is an increasingly urgent issue, highlighting the profound impact of climate change on human mobility and societal structures. Although often imperceptible in the short term, climate change can be seen in statistical trends, such as the rise in global temperature of around one degree over the past 150 years. The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including hurricanes and prolonged droughts, have increased sharply, with the number of natural disasters doubling in the last two decades. These phenomena have triggered population movements, highlighting the interplay between climate and mobility.

Climate-induced migration can be broadly categorised into three processes: voluntary or semi-voluntary migration, forced displacement and planned resettlement. Despite its growing importance, this type of migration is often sidelined in public discourse and omitted from many climate policy agendas. The increasing frequency of climate-related disasters and the resulting migration patterns raise critical questions about societal attitudes towards these new migrants.

This special issue seeks to address these pressing challenges and invites submissions that explore the intersection of climate change and migration. Submissions may include original research, perspectives, case studies, initiatives or projects (either complete or still in progress), new proposals or ideas, and more creative works. While the central focus is on the intersection of climate change and migration, submissions exploring related dimensions—such as the role of religion, socioeconomic factors, or political polarization in shaping climate-driven migration—are particularly encouraged.

Dr. Alessandro Indelicato
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Challenges is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • climate change
  • migration
  • weather events
  • climate policy agendas
  • climate-related disasters

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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29 pages, 21587 KB  
Article
Modeling the Impacts of Climate Change on Malaria Distribution in Ethiopia: The Case of Arba Minch Town and Surrounding Areas
by Kalkidan Dessalegn, Tesfay Mekonnen, Ababe Kebede, Ssemwanga Mohammed, Melkamu Diriba and Elias Fisha
Challenges 2026, 17(2), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/challe17020015 - 7 May 2026
Viewed by 262
Abstract
This study presents the relationship between climate variables and malaria outbreaks and forecasts the future malaria incidence in Arba Minch Town and its surrounding areas. High-resolution gridded climate data (~4 km × 4 km) covering the period 1981 to 2020 was obtained from [...] Read more.
This study presents the relationship between climate variables and malaria outbreaks and forecasts the future malaria incidence in Arba Minch Town and its surrounding areas. High-resolution gridded climate data (~4 km × 4 km) covering the period 1981 to 2020 was obtained from the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute. Additionally, Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) model simulations under two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5) were used to analyze future climate patterns. Malaria case data were obtained from local health centers located in Arba Minch town and surrounding woredas. Malaria projections were simulated using the Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMAX) model. Climate projections indicate a significant rise in mean temperature by the end of 21st century, increasing by 2.9 °C under SSP2-4.5 and 3.48 °C under SSP5-8.5. Average monthly rainfall during the baseline period (70.53 mm) is expected to increase to 94.18 mm and 86.09 mm under the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, respectively. Malaria case distribution during the baseline period (2005–2017) ranged from 79 to 552 cases per month, while future projections suggest that cases will increase by approximately 600 in the near-term and up to more than 1000 cases by the end of the century. The SARIMAX model effectively captured seasonal variations and short-term fluctuations demonstrating a strong forecasting performance. The model generally indicated that wetter conditions and moderate temperatures will favor mosquito breeding and intensify malaria transmission. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Migration: Navigating Intersecting Crises)
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14 pages, 226 KB  
Article
Beyond «Climate Refugees»: Rethinking International Protection for Environmentally Displaced Persons
by Sara Caselles Rodríguez
Challenges 2026, 17(2), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/challe17020014 - 30 Apr 2026
Viewed by 245
Abstract
Climate change and environmental degradation are increasingly recognized as major drivers of human mobility, operating through both sudden-onset disasters and slow-onset processes such as sea-level rise, desertification and resource scarcity. Although estimates vary widely, projections suggest that millions of people may become displaced [...] Read more.
Climate change and environmental degradation are increasingly recognized as major drivers of human mobility, operating through both sudden-onset disasters and slow-onset processes such as sea-level rise, desertification and resource scarcity. Although estimates vary widely, projections suggest that millions of people may become displaced by 2050 because of climate change, predominantly within their own countries but also across international borders. This article examines the emerging phenomenon of “environmental migration” against the backdrop of international refugee law and broader human rights frameworks. It first maps the diverse environmental scenarios that trigger displacement before analyzing the existing international legal landscape. Particular attention is paid to the contested terminology surrounding “climate refugees”, “environmental migrants” and “environmentally displaced persons” and to the protection gaps that arise from current categorizations. This article argues that, while existing norms on human rights, disaster risk reduction and internal displacement offer partial safeguards, they do not provide coherent legal status or systematic protection for people displaced across borders by climate-related harms. It concludes that climate-related displacement should be addressed through a combination of evolving human rights-based climate litigation, enhanced use of existing instruments and the progressive elaboration of specific normative frameworks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Migration: Navigating Intersecting Crises)

Other

Jump to: Research

25 pages, 309 KB  
Case Report
Solastalgia Following Environmental Change in Gold Mining Areas of Zimbabwe: A Case Study of Lived Experiences
by Moses Nyakuwanika
Challenges 2025, 16(4), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/challe16040049 - 20 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1907
Abstract
This case study examines the experience of solastalgia among individuals residing in gold mining towns in Zimbabwe, particularly as environmental degradation intensified, to illustrate the experience of solastalgia through the expressions and reflections of individuals who have been impacted by it. Ecological degradation [...] Read more.
This case study examines the experience of solastalgia among individuals residing in gold mining towns in Zimbabwe, particularly as environmental degradation intensified, to illustrate the experience of solastalgia through the expressions and reflections of individuals who have been impacted by it. Ecological degradation has intensified, and national forest cover has been declining at an average rate of 327,000 hectares per year between 2000 and 2010. Meanwhile, artisanal gold mining releases more than 24 tons of mercury into ecosystems annually, contaminating water bodies. The research employed a qualitative design grounded in the interpretivist paradigm and utilized an inductive methodology. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews with 11 individuals who had resided in areas impacted by mining for an extended period. Thematic analysis was employed to examine individuals’ emotions, thoughts, and behaviours in response to environmental changes, with an emphasis on feelings of loss, sadness, frustration, and disconnection from place. Participants exhibited intense emotional reactions to environmental changes, including profound sadness, anger, feelings of helplessness, and a longing for the past. Of the participants, 70% reported experiencing profound sorrow, while 60% indicated that they employed community support as a coping strategy. The degradation of forests, water sources, and biodiversity contributed to a sense of alienation regarding their environment and identity. Nevertheless, some demonstrated resilience through their faith, community support, and efforts to safeguard the environment. However, their ability to heal and adapt was hindered by persistent systematic neglect and unfulfilled commitments. This case study contributes to the growing literature on solastalgia by presenting specific instances from Zimbabwe, a region where the phenomenon remains inadequately comprehended. This expands the concept of solastalgia to encompass the ecological degradation resulting from mining activities in Africa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Migration: Navigating Intersecting Crises)
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