Water and Sanitation

New settlements often lack safe water sources and sewage systems. Limited access to drinking water, sanitation, and waste disposal can lead to public health crises.

Electricity and Housing Quality

Connecting to power grids and ensuring stable electricity is expensive. Poor-quality materials and overcrowded housing increase safety and health risks.

Legal Status and Rights

The absence of legal recognition for “climate refugees” means there is no clear framework for cross-border relocation or domestic resettlement, often leading to conflicts over property or residency status.

Employment and Livelihoods

Many migrants find their previous skills no longer relevant. Without access to training, microloans, or job opportunities, informal and unstable employment becomes common.

Social Integration and Trauma

Cultural differences, discrimination, and the breakdown of community ties can lead to social isolation and psychological distress. Support systems are often inadequate.

Funding and Governance

Poor coordination between government agencies, long project timelines, and budget overruns reduce public trust and delay recovery.

Case Studies

Rapidly growing informal settlements on a city’s outskirts
Urban influx: infrastructure pressure, informal housing growth, and social exclusion often occur together.

Rural-to-Urban Migration in Bangladesh

After major floods, large numbers of rural residents move into cities, forming dense informal settlements. These areas often lack water, sanitation, electricity, and fire safety.

  • Short-term: Provide temporary housing, clean water, and sanitation facilities.
  • Medium-term: Develop affordable housing and vocational training programs.
  • Long-term: Integrate climate migration into city planning and finance mechanisms.

Managed Retreat in U.S. Coastal Communities

Projects like Isle de Jean Charles show that without sufficient funding, transparent communication, and cultural continuity, relocation progresses slowly and public trust erodes.

Key strategy: Community-led planning + cultural preservation + livelihood transition are essential for successful, sustainable relocation.
Community town hall meeting for relocation planning
Public hearings and co-design processes are effective ways to reduce resistance and misunderstandings.

Policy and Governance Snapshot

Country / Region Climate Migrant Recognition Funding Tools Planning Approach Notes
New Zealand Partial pathways Climate Resilience Fund Coastal zoning, managed retreat Focus on Pacific island mobility
Germany No legal status Federal-State joint funding Long-term adaptation strategies, urban renewal Primarily adaptation-focused
Pacific Islands Regional agreements in progress Primarily multilateral aid National relocation planning, sovereignty concerns Unique challenges with statehood and citizenship