Relocation planning must address voluntary immobility

Farbotko, Carol; Dun, Olivia; Thornton, Fanny; McNamara, Karen E.; McMichael, Celia

doi:10.1038/s41558-020-0829-6

Cited by 75 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Meanwhile, terms such as “solastalgia” and “stationary displacement” or “displacement in place” speak to the psychically—and often physically—damaging consequences of witnessing one’s home and the surrounding environment degraded in ways that may be gradual but no less violent than sudden disruption (Albrecht et al 2007 ; Nixon 2011 ). Concern for “trapped populations,” people who might prefer to move but confront obstacles to doing so (Black and Collyer 2014 ), joins calls to recognize and plan for the “voluntary immobility” of those who resist relocation as a threat to sovereignty, livelihoods, or cultural survival (Farbotko et al 2020 ). Scholars in the emerging climate (im)mobilities field stress that moving and staying put should be understood as interrelated and not mutually exclusive; policies may facilitate both at once, and examining people’s experiences often reveals a complex blend of movement and stasis (Zickgraf 2019 ).…”

Section: Assessing Outcomes Of Retreat Versus Rebuildingmentioning

confidence: 99%

When rebuilding no longer means recovery: the stress of staying put after Hurricane Sandy

et al. 2021

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After a disaster, it is common to equate repopulation and rebuilding with recovery. Numerous studies link post-disaster relocation to adverse social, economic, and health outcomes. However, there is a need to reconsider these relationships in light of accelerating climate change and associated social and policy shifts in the USA, including the rising cost of flood insurance, the challenge of obtaining aid to rebuild, and growing interest in “managed retreat” from places at greatest risk. This article presents data from a survey of individuals who opted either to rebuild in place or relocate with the help of a voluntary home buyout after Hurricane Sandy. Findings show those who lived in buyout-eligible areas and relocated were significantly less likely to report worsened stress than those who rebuilt in place. This suggests access to a government-supported voluntary relocation option may, under certain circumstances, lessen the negative mental health consequences associated with disaster-related housing damage.

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Section: Assessing Outcomes Of Retreat Versus Rebuildingmentioning

confidence: 99%

When rebuilding no longer means recovery: the stress of staying put after Hurricane Sandy

et al. 2021

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“…These recommendations echo the broader calls by, for example, the International Organization of Migration (IOM) to minimize forced climate-related migration (IOM, 2020) and also the need to avoid assumptions that mobility is inherently positive or negative(Boas et al, 2019). Given widespread preferences to remain in sites of belonging, many studies reviewed here called for policy initiatives that enable people to cope with, avoid and prevent the impacts of climate change at origin in order to prevent forced migration(Farbotko et al, 2020).The included studies made recommendations to support investment in climate change adaptation and supporting sustainable development of agriculture generally. Specific suggestions included providing credit facilities and building agricultural extension servicesalso known as agricultural advisory services -that build knowledge of agronomic techniques and skills to improve productivity, food security and livelihoods.…”

mentioning

confidence: 79%

Mobility and Health in the Context of Climate Change: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Synthesis of Policy Recommendations

Schwerdtle¹,

Stockemer²,

Bowen³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Changing mobility patterns combined with changes in the climate present challenges and opportunities for global health, requiring effective, relevant and humane policy responses. This systematic literature review sought to synthesize the existing policy recommendations related to the literature examining the intersection of climate change, migration and health to strengthen the evidence-base. Systematic searches were conducted in four academic databases (PubMed, Ovid Medline, Global Health and Scopus) and Google Scholar for empirical studies published between 1990 – 2020 that used any study design to investigate migration and health in the context of climate change. Studies underwent a two-stage protocol-based screening process and eligible studies were appraised for quality using a standardized mixed-methods tool. From the initial 2,425 hits, 68 articles were appraised for quality and included in the synthesis. Among the policy recommendations, six themes were discernible: (1) avoid the universal promotion of migration as an adaptive response to climate risk; (2) preserve cultural and social ties of mobile populations; (3) enable the participation of migrants in decision-making in sites of relocation and resettlement; (4) strengthen health systems and reduce barriers for migrants to access health care; (5) support and promote optimization of social determinants of migrant health; (6) integrate health into loss and damage assessments related to climate change. The results call for transformative policies that support the health and wellbeing of people engaging in, or affected by mobility responses, including those whose migration decisions and experiences are influenced by climate change, and to establish and develop inclusive migrant healthcare.

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“…Disruptions to place attachment are critical challenges of planned relocation and mobility, with potentially adverse consequences for health and well-being [ 8 , 46 ]. This is particularly the case for Indigenous communities with strong connections to place, connections that are entwined with ancestors, cultural identity, management of ecosystems, livelihoods, and place-based knowledges and cultures [ 47 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Planned Relocation and Health: A Case Study from Fiji

McMichael

Powell

2021

IJERPH

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In Fiji, low-lying coastal villages are beginning to retreat and relocate in response to coastal erosion, flooding and saltwater intrusion. Planned relocation is considered a last resort as a form of adaptation to the impacts of climatic and environmental change. The health impacts of planned relocation are poorly understood. This paper draws on data from multi-year research with residents of the iTaukei (Indigenous) Fijian village of Vunidogoloa. We used qualitative research methods to examine experiences of planned relocation, including residents’ accounts of their health and quality of life. In-depth interviews and group discussions were conducted with villagers living in a site of relocation, at four points in time (2015, 2016, 2019, and 2020). Twenty-seven people in Vunidogoloa, Fiji, participated in in-depth interviews, several on more than one occasion. Six group discussions with between eight to twelve participants were also conducted. Qualitative analytic software (NVivo) was used to analyse interview transcripts and identify themes. Villagers report both health benefits and challenges following planned relocation. Key facilitators for good health include movement away from some environmental risks to health, adequate drinking water and sanitation, food security including through farms and kitchen gardens, livelihood opportunities, improved access to schools and health services, and appropriate housing design. However, residents also refer to unanticipated risks to health including increased consumption of packaged goods and alcohol, disruptions to social structures and traditional values, and disrupted place attachment following movement away from a coastal site of belonging with consequences for mental wellbeing. Therefore, planned relocation has altered the social determinants of health in complex ways, bringing both health opportunities and risks. These results highlight the need for context-specific planning and adaptation programs that include meaningful involvement of community members in ongoing decision making, and call for an understanding of diverse social determinants of health that emerge and evolve in contexts of planned relocation.

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Relocation planning must address voluntary immobility

Cited by 75 publications

References 17 publications

When rebuilding no longer means recovery: the stress of staying put after Hurricane Sandy

When rebuilding no longer means recovery: the stress of staying put after Hurricane Sandy

Mobility and Health in the Context of Climate Change: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Synthesis of Policy Recommendations

Planned Relocation and Health: A Case Study from Fiji

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