Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Challenges
Special Issues
Climate Change and Migration: Navigating Intersecting Crises
share announcement

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 2948

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

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

14 pages, 305 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
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 1790
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)
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop