Global determinants of coastal migration under climate change

Abstract Climate change-induced sea-level rise and associated flood risk will have major impacts on coastal regions worldwide, likely prompting millions of people to migrate elsewhere. Migration behavior is expected to be context-specific, but comparative empirical research on coastal migration unde...

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Main Authors: Sem J. Duijndam, W. J. Wouter Botzen, Liselotte C. Hagedoorn, Marijn Ton, Jens de Bruijn, Silvina Carretero, Jeanne Dachary-Bernard, Bénédicte Rulleau, Jeroen C. J. H. Aerts
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59199-y
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author Sem J. Duijndam
W. J. Wouter Botzen
Liselotte C. Hagedoorn
Marijn Ton
Jens de Bruijn
Silvina Carretero
Jeanne Dachary-Bernard
Bénédicte Rulleau
Jeroen C. J. H. Aerts
author_facet Sem J. Duijndam
W. J. Wouter Botzen
Liselotte C. Hagedoorn
Marijn Ton
Jens de Bruijn
Silvina Carretero
Jeanne Dachary-Bernard
Bénédicte Rulleau
Jeroen C. J. H. Aerts
author_sort Sem J. Duijndam
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Climate change-induced sea-level rise and associated flood risk will have major impacts on coastal regions worldwide, likely prompting millions of people to migrate elsewhere. Migration behavior is expected to be context-specific, but comparative empirical research on coastal migration under climate change is lacking. We address this gap by utilizing original survey data from coastal Argentina, France, Mozambique and the United States to research determinants of migration under different flood risk scenarios. Here we show that migration is more likely in higher-than in lower-income contexts, and that flood risk is an important driver of migration. Consistent determinants of migration across contexts include response efficacy, self-efficacy, place attachment and age, with variations between scenarios. Other factors such as climate change perceptions, migration costs, social networks, household income, and rurality are also important but context-specific. Furthermore, important trade-offs exist between migration and in-situ adaptation. These findings support policymakers in forging equitable migration pathways under climate change.
format Article
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issn 2041-1723
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series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-264bb56d1d9d4922a76ac9b7acbacfb72025-08-20T04:03:03ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-011611910.1038/s41467-025-59199-yGlobal determinants of coastal migration under climate changeSem J. Duijndam0W. J. Wouter Botzen1Liselotte C. Hagedoorn2Marijn Ton3Jens de Bruijn4Silvina Carretero5Jeanne Dachary-Bernard6Bénédicte Rulleau7Jeroen C. J. H. Aerts8Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CEIDE, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, 64 no. 3Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), UR ETTIS, 50 Avenue de VerdunInstitut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement (INRAE), UR ETTIS, 50 Avenue de VerdunInstitute for Environmental Studies (IVM), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085Abstract Climate change-induced sea-level rise and associated flood risk will have major impacts on coastal regions worldwide, likely prompting millions of people to migrate elsewhere. Migration behavior is expected to be context-specific, but comparative empirical research on coastal migration under climate change is lacking. We address this gap by utilizing original survey data from coastal Argentina, France, Mozambique and the United States to research determinants of migration under different flood risk scenarios. Here we show that migration is more likely in higher-than in lower-income contexts, and that flood risk is an important driver of migration. Consistent determinants of migration across contexts include response efficacy, self-efficacy, place attachment and age, with variations between scenarios. Other factors such as climate change perceptions, migration costs, social networks, household income, and rurality are also important but context-specific. Furthermore, important trade-offs exist between migration and in-situ adaptation. These findings support policymakers in forging equitable migration pathways under climate change.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59199-y
spellingShingle Sem J. Duijndam
W. J. Wouter Botzen
Liselotte C. Hagedoorn
Marijn Ton
Jens de Bruijn
Silvina Carretero
Jeanne Dachary-Bernard
Bénédicte Rulleau
Jeroen C. J. H. Aerts
Global determinants of coastal migration under climate change
Nature Communications
title Global determinants of coastal migration under climate change
title_full Global determinants of coastal migration under climate change
title_fullStr Global determinants of coastal migration under climate change
title_full_unstemmed Global determinants of coastal migration under climate change
title_short Global determinants of coastal migration under climate change
title_sort global determinants of coastal migration under climate change
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59199-y
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