HABITABLE WP6 Workshop, Sapienza University, Rome, 4 November 2024
The Project HABITABLE – Linking Climate Change, Habitability and Social Tipping Points: Scenarios for Climate Migration aimed to significantly advance our understanding of the interlinkages between climate change impacts and migration and displacement patterns and to better anticipate their future evolution. Bringing together 22 partners from 18 countries under the guidance of the University of Liege, HABITABLE (2020–2024) serves as a reference project in climate-mobility research.
This Project Synthesis Report has two core aims: (1) to summarise the practical, conceptual, and methodological contributions of HABITABLE to the field of research; and (2) to describe intersecting and complementary novel findings generated by the Project, made possible through the triangulation of diverse methods and methodological innovations that advance research on the climate–migration nexus.
The Novel Findings section of this report echoes the four key objectives of the Project. First, we develop an understanding of migration trends by identifying tipping points at which environmental and social conditions render areas “inhabitable.” Second, we assess how migration reshapes adaptation limits to explore context-specific strategies used by affected populations. Third, gender and social equity considerations are embedded in the Project’s theoretical framework, data collection processes, analysis, and policy engagement. Lastly, we offer policy recommendations to enhance the governance of climate-induced migration and mitigate displacement risks while promoting the more effective integration of climate and migration policies globally.
HABITABLE Policy Dialogue on Habitability, Climate Change and Human Rights, Palais des Nations, Geneva, 26 May 2023
Sapienza role in the HABITABLE Project As the lead of Working Package 6 on Legal and Policy Options, the Sapienza Team has had a central role in defining methodology , coordinating operational activities , and researching legal and policy frameworks. To this end, regular internal and WP6 meetings were held with partners involved in Domain 3 and related activities.
Technical Dialogue on Habitability, Climate Change and Human Rights, International Environment House, Geneva, 26 May 2023
Legal Methodology
The methodology has comprised a preliminary effort to collect and catalogue nearly 700 policy instruments, reports, and studies, followed by a detailed desk review and assessment to identify major policy options.
WP6 activity has prioritised analysing existing frameworks to manage climate migration and reduce risks of displacement through a human rights-based approach (HRBA). This approach serves as a conceptual framework grounded in international legal standards, requiring States and institutions to incorporate these standards into policies and actionable strategies affecting individuals before, during, and after mobility.
Preliminary findings and messages were then presented during online and in-person workshops to discuss them and refine the methodology. An example is the workshop held in November 2022, as part of the HABITABLE Annual Meeting in Rome, on Criteria to evaluate legal and policy options for adaptation . Sapienza, Adelphi, and CSIR jointly organised it to identify criteria for selecting relevant practices on adaptation to global warming.
In January 2023, WP6 also issued a call for input to incorporate diverse perspectives into the research, particularly from countries in the Global South. Responses from experts (from Australia, Ghana, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, and Peru) and institutions (such as the Platform on Disaster Displacement, Save the Children, and UNHCR) offered valuable insights.
Main Goals and Objectives The WP6 contribution to the HABITABLE Project aimed to understand how legal and policy instruments address climate change and its impact on migration, focusing on concepts such as habitability , socio-ecological systems , and social tipping points . [1] This research has been instrumental in reaching Key Objective 4 of the Project, to provide recommendations to help policymakers manage climate-driven migration and minimise forced displacement risks.
WP6 Tasks Within this framework, WP6 activities have been organised into three main tasks:
T1 – Assessing Existing Policies, Legal Frameworks, and Case Law T2 – Identifying and Testing Legal and Policy Options T3 – Appraising Options through Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue and Developing Strategic Recommendations
The research also highlighted strong relations between different sectors of international law. In this sense, climate change law and space law are interconnected legal sectors , albeit their dynamic relation is not easy to frame. Promoting policies to enhance the synergy between these fields of law can be seen as essential to effectively addressing the adverse effects of climate change , particularly in the implementation of climate mitigation and adaptation measures . The interplay between climate change law and space law, namely how and what rules and policies are necessary and helpful to best support the space community in addressing and monitoring climate change, and what role can the space community play in supporting effective laws and policies to address climate change, will be one of the topics discussed at the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) Global Space Conference on Climate Change (GLOC 2023) Oslo, Norway, from 23 to 25 May 2023 .
In May 2023, the Sapienza Team finalised the D6.1 Policy Brief, “Tackling Climate Migration and Human Rights in Tandem: A Policy Agenda
Sergio Marchisio speech at the HABITABLE WP6 Workshop, Sapienza University, Rome, 4 November 2024
The Policy Brief outlined 30 policy options across five critical areas:
Mitigation of Climate Change
Adaptation to Climate Impacts
Addressing Loss and Damage
Internal and Cross-Border Climate Mobility
Climate-Driven Displacement
In June 2023, the Policy Brief was presented at the Policy Dialogue on Habitability, Climate Change, and Human Rights , which was held at the UN premises in Geneva during the 53rd Session of the Human Rights Council. The Dialogue was instrumental in engaging key policy stakeholders to discuss the preliminary findings of the research, collecting feedback on the options from a wide range of actors, experts, and practitioners, and raising awareness of the nexus between habitability, climate mobility and human rights.
In November 2023, the Annual Meeting of the HABITABLE Project in Accra (Ghana) represented another occasion to discuss challenges emerging from the findings. Indeed, it was highlighted that, on the one hand, the issue of predictions on climate impacts on mobility has been challenged by some. Furthermore, such predictions fail to differentiate between migration and displacement . On the other hand, evidence from the fieldwork suggested that migration is influenced by a complex interplay of factors, making it challenging to isolate climate conditions as the sole cause of movement.
From discussions, it also emerged that the interchangeable use of ‘migration’ and ‘displacement’ in the relevant literature, as well as in official documents, could lead to misunderstandings. In order to clarify the issue of terminology within the Project, an internal study was undertaken by WP6 and presented at the 42nd HABITABLE Monthly Meeting (February 2024). In WP6’s view, to clarify the applicable legal framework, it is essential to distinguish between migration – the movement of persons across an international border – and internal displacement – the movement within the boundaries of a single country.
In 2024, activities involved further research on potential responses to address significant climate-migration challenges, as well as multi-stakeholder workshops to review findings and sharpen key messages.
2nd HABITABLE Annual Meeting, Sapienza University, Rome, 10 November 2022
In particular, the research has focused on deepening the legal understanding of habitability and the available regional mechanisms for addressing climate-related issues . This led to a further evolution of the concept of habitability, which should be understood as a multidimensional continuum rather than a binary state
Such outputs informed the drafting of D10.4 – HABITABLE Advocacy Strategy , finalised in March 2024 by CARE France, which provides a strategy outlining the advocacy objectives, key messages, policy processes to focus on, and types of activities to be implemented.
During this stage, participatory events have also been held to discuss the relevant practices of the policies. To mention this very last part of the Project, we can recall WP6 contributions to the Virtual Stakeholder Dialogue (March 2024), organised by CARE France, as well as the workshop on Exploring habitability in the climate crisis: What lessons for EU policymakers? , organised by Adelphi in Brussels (June 2024).
Since then, WP6 disseminated the key findings and discussed potential additional areas of interest. To this end, in November 2024, the Sapienza Team organised, together with ULIEGE, Adelphi, CARE, PIK and UNESCO, a Workshop on Habitability and Climate Mobility: Legal and Policy Solutions. Dialogue with Stakeholders . Through the Dialogue, key outcomes of WP6 research have been presented and discussed. To enhance the meaningful and active participation of stakeholders, a Concept Note summarising the main insights was shared in advance with participants.
Stakeholders[2] agreed on the need to adapt current international frameworks to handle the complexities of climate-induced mobility driven by multiple factors. While encouraging, regional initiatives are insufficient for a comprehensive global solution, as they are based mainly on local needs. A comprehensive human rights-based approach that involves local communities, scientific insights, and international cooperation can provide sustainable solutions.
In December 2024, the entire Consortium of the Project met in Nairobi for the HABITABLE Final Conference . The event facilitated discussions among HABITABLE partners and the exchange of information to define the content of the Final Scientific Report , serving as the primary tool for disseminating the Project’s findings in the years to come.
Key findings 1. Assessing Existing Policies, Legal Frameworks, and Case Law
Assessment of legal and policy instruments has highlighted a growing recognition of the nexus between climate change and human rights[3]. At the core of these discussions is the concept of habitability of a given place, which refers to a socio-ecological system’s ability to sustain and support the lives and livelihoods of its community. The Human Rights Committee has emphasised that habitability is a prerequisite for enjoying fundamental rights , and its absence can become incompatible with the right to life with dignity (Billy and Others v. Australia, 2022 ).
From this perspective, citizens and civil society organisations increasingly hold governments accountable for failing to mitigate and adapt to climate change through national and regional courts and human rights treaty bodies. Since the landmark decision in Urgenda Foundation v. Netherlands (The Hague Court of Appeal, 2018), courts have consistently identified governments’ negligence in addressing climate change and human rights and mandated them to take protective actions. [4]
At the regional level, HRBA has played a pivotal role in climate-related cases before the European Court of Human Rights. Although nine such cases are currently pending, the KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland (2024) reaffirmed that protecting fundamental rights from severe climate impacts requires not only robust mitigation efforts but also adaptation strategies to specific needs.
2. Human Rights, Habitability, Tipping Points and Climate Mobility
The adverse effects of climate change on human mobility remain a subject of ongoing debate , particularly in light of recent developments. Across Europe, governments are tightening migration policies in response to anti-immigration political agendas. These measures include stricter asylum rules, prolonged detention for undocumented migrants, and heightened border control efforts. Meanwhile, legal initiatives addressing human rights in the context of climate change focus on the collective challenges faced by affected populations , as demonstrated by recent international advisory proceedings. [5]
The HABITABLE Project has evolved from focusing solely on protecting individuals displaced by climate change to advocating for proactive legal and policy responses . Habitability is a cornerstone for realising fundamental rights, and human rights play a central role in this broader framework. While quantifying climate change-related population movements remains challenging, adopting a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) is essential. Such an approach prioritises dignity, safety, and livelihoods, irrespective of their migration status.
A multipolar understanding of habitability has emerged, revealing a complex network of intersected rights affected by climate change. Protecting one fundamental right, such as the right to life, can bolster others, including health and security. Conversely, violations in one area may destabilise the entire framework. For example, strengthening rights such as access to education can empower individuals to adopt sustainable practices, make informed decisions, and contribute to a more resilient and adaptable future.
This interconnected framework is highlighted in the Policy Brief , which underscores the importance of adopting a “social tipping point” perspective to analyse how climate influences migration decisions over time. This approach helps to inform legal and policy responses at every stage of the mobility process, ensuring that affected populations are supported.
Infographic on the Human Rights-Based Approach to Climate Moblity
In the pre-tipping point phase , migration is often driven by economic and environmental factors. As conditions gradually deteriorate, migration transitions from being a choice to a growing necessity . During this stage, legal frameworks must address both voluntary and forced movements while supporting the resilience of affected communities.
One recognised strategy during this phase is planned relocation , which involves proactively moving populations when other adaptation options are no longer viable. To implement this effectively, States should: 1. Tailor actions to the specific rights and needs of the affected population; 2. Define the legal basis for resettlement; 3. Build individual and community capacity for managing relocation; 4. Establish a participatory process to identify suitable locations and ensure community buy-in.
As conditions cross the tipping point and areas become uninhabitable, forced migration becomes inevitable . In this phase, legal responses must prioritise the protection of displaced individuals and ensure their access to resources and services in their new settings. States should explore group-based protection mechanisms , such as protective collection for climate-displaced populations, rather than granting protection based on an individual assessment of applications. These schemes, often referred to as temporary protection, provide minimum safeguards without the need for individual assessments. This approach facilitates a more efficient and equitable response to humanitarian crises triggered by climate impacts.
This phased perspective offers a framework for understanding the evolving nature of climate migration and how law and policy responses can be adapted. The climate-migration nexus exists on a continuum, with different legal regimes to be applied as conditions shift closer to the tipping point.
By aligning laws and policies with the specific needs and circumstances of each phase, States can better manage the challenges of climate-driven migration and displacement while safeguarding the dignity and rights of affected populations.
Challenges 1. Challenging the Traditional Narrative
Research and literature reviews have underscored the need to challenge prevailing narratives about climate mobility. Climate-related migration and displacement are frequently oversimplified , with negative framing, misinformation, and political agendas impeding the development of effective, evidence-based policies. Key challenges in addressing climate mobility include sourcing of reliable data and the multifaceted nature of migration decisions.
Projections from prominent international and national institutions predict that climate impacts could displace millions[6]. However, these figures have faced criticism. While data have been adjusted over time, significant gaps persist , making it difficult to attribute human mobility directly to climate change without considering other contributing factors.
Evidence suggests that migration is influenced by a complex interplay of factors , making it highly challenging to isolate climate conditions as the sole driver of movements. In most cases, migration is primarily motivated by economic factors, with climate-related influences serving as secondary triggers that exacerbate existing vulnerabilities rather than act as primary causes. Global warming often amplifies pre-existing patterns of mobility rather than creating entirely new ones.
Human mobility related to climate change could be best understood as a result of intersecting factors, such as gender, age, and education, which play a significant role in shaping mobility decisions. Recognising this intersectionality is essential to develop a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of climate-related migration.
2. The Inconsistent Use of the Terms: Legal Aspects
A key issue arose from the interchangeable use of terms such as ‘migration’ and ‘displacement’. The failure to clearly distinguish between these terms complicates the narrative and hinders the development of effective legal and policy responses. [7] This terminological ambiguity underscores the importance of language in capturing the diverse needs of affected populations, particularly as the nature of the movement may change over time.
The inconsistent use of “migration” and “displacement” also presents significant legal challenges. International law currently lacks clear definitions and adequate protections for individuals affected by climate change, resulting in a notable gap in the legal framework. [8] Migration across international borders is governed by distinct legal frameworks , including immigration laws, bilateral agreements, and international conventions. By contrast, internal displacement is addressed within domestic legal regimes , as those affected do not cross international borders.
This distinction is crucial to ensure that individuals experiencing various forms of climate-related mobility receive appropriate legal responses and protections.
3. Adapting Legal and Policy Instruments
International and regional frameworks for climate mobility
At the international level, existing frameworks are insufficient to address the complexity of climate-related mobility, which is driven by a combination of factors. The 2018 Global Compact for Migration aimed to integrate climate mobility into broader migration policies, while it lacks enforceable measures due to political resistance. Regional efforts , particularly in Africa[9] and the Pacific[10], show promise, but their universal application is tough to achieve. These initiatives, while encouraging, are insufficient for a comprehensive global solution.
A key obstacle to establishing a global framework for human mobility related to climate change is the lack of a universally accepted definition of ‘climate migrant’. Efforts by individual States, such as New Zealand’s 2017 draft regulation for humanitarian visas for climate-displaced persons, have yet to yield tangible outcomes.
European Union Framework
The EU is well-positioned to play a key role in addressing climate mobility, particularly through the comprehensive approach proposed by the HABITABLE Project. However, current EU frameworks fall short of addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by climate-related migration. The 2024 Pact on Migration and Asylum , scheduled to take effect in July 2026, primarily targets irregular migration and asylum seekers, neglecting broader migration issues. Notably, it does not address climate-related mobility or the general migration challenges faced by Member States, such as labour shortages in key industries or the impacts of ageing populations.
The Pact’s emphasis lies in strengthening EU external borders and heavily relying on agreements with third countries to manage asylum processes beyond the EU territory. This narrow focus limits the EU’s capacity to comprehensively tackle climate-induced migration.
In contrast, the EU demonstrates strong engagement in promoting climate resilience through external action. The 2023 Partnership Agreement with the Members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (Samoa Agreement ) exemplifies this commitment[11].
Considerations on the international and regional approaches
Existing legal frameworks —- at international, regional, and subregional levels — were largely developed before climate change became a global concern . As a result, they are ill-suited to address the unique challenges of climate-related mobility .
Displacement poses distinct challenges , particularly when driven by slow-onset climate effects. These situations intersect with multiple legal domains, including human rights and environmental law, disaster risk reduction, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Besides, the 1998 UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, while foundational, do not address forced displacement caused by climate change.
This gap leaves those affected by slow-onset climate effects without sufficient protection. Enhanced frameworks are needed to address the unique vulnerabilities of internally displaced persons within the context of climate change, ensuring that human rights are upheld alongside environmental and disaster risk management considerations.
Regional cooperation frameworks face challenges in replicability and universal applicability . While regional efforts offer valuable insights and potential solutions, they underscore the need for a comprehensive, global, and enforceable legal framework to address climate mobility effectively. Bridging gaps in definition, policy and implementation remains central to creating a cohesive approach that protects the rights and dignity of climate-displaced populations worldwide.
HABITABLE Final Conference, Nairobi, 4-6 December 2024
Main Outcomes HABITABLE Perspectives
HABITABLE promotes a holistic approach to climate migration, focusing on preventing social tipping points and protecting people in areas that are uninhabitable. It aims to address specific needs and vulnerabilities to ensure fundamental rights and reduce inequalities.
Regional cooperation holds great potential for tackling shared challenges through coordination mechanisms and dialogue forums that align objectives and actions. Integrating human rights into climate change and migration policies safeguards the dignity of individuals affected by these issues. A comprehensive human rights-based approach involving local communities, scientific insights, and international cooperation can provide sustainable solutions to the complex challenges posed by climate mobility.
To foster effective collaboration, relevant actors should promote frameworks for cooperation that identify context-based actions through coordination mechanisms. Regional agreements that establish freedom of movement and the right to residence within specific areas are valuable examples of such actions.
The Project urges the EU to adopt an integrated approach . This includes legal reforms, protection mechanisms, and financial support systems across governance levels. The main goal is to ensure that policies align with human rights standards while promoting sustainable development, resilience, and climate justice.
HABITABLE recommends adapting legal frameworks to recognise non-linear, internal climate displacement and protect climate-displaced persons . Additionally, governments could establish humanitarian visas, and temporary work and study permits for those displaced by environmental hazards, also within the framework of bilateral and regional cooperation agreements. In sum, all decisions made by States and relevant actors in this field should always maintain the human being at the core of the policy .
[1] In this context, habitability refers to a location’s capacity to support the livelihoods and well-being of its community, a factor increasingly challenged by climate change; the socio-ecological system describes the interconnected social and environmental factors that, when stressed, may reach social tipping points , leading to major shifts in migration patterns.
[2] UNHCR, the Italian Council for Refugees, the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, and the Forensic Union for the Protection of Human Rights.
[3] The UNGA 2022 Resolution 76/300 on the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment underscores the impact of climate change on fundamental rights.
[4] For instance, the German Federal Constitutional Court rules, in the Neubauer and Others v. Germany (2018), that the fundamental rights to life and health obligates the State to protect against climate change risks. Courts have also allowed applicants to seek compensation for such omissions, as seen in Notre Affairs à Tous and Others v. France (Paris Administrative Court, 2021).
[5] In 2023, Chile and Colombia formally sought clarification from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) regarding the obligations of States under human rights law in the face of climate emergencies.
That same year, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 77/276 requesting the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to clarify States’ climate obligations under international and human rights law. The Resolution also sought clarity on the legal consequences of inaction that harms current and future generations.
On 21 May 2024, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) issued an advisory opinion on climate obligations. The ruling emphasised that States’ due diligence obligations vary according to their levels of development. Accordingly, better-equipped States must provide technical, financial and capacity-building support to developing countries, reinforcing the principle of differentiated responsibilities.
[6] Since 2009, one of the most widely cited estimates has been that 150–200 million people might be displaced by climate change by 2050 (UN, World Bank).
[7] For example, labelling all climate-related movements as “migration” may downplay the coercive nature of displacement and the need for targeted protections. Conversely, framing all such movements as “displacement” might obscure instances where individuals choose to migrate as an adaptive strategy.
[8] Unlike refugees, who are covered under the 1951 Refugee Convention, there is no equivalent international mechanism to address the plight of individuals.
[9] In Africa, various initiatives have incorporated climate mobility considerations into political declarations and legal frameworks. For instance: 1979 ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Residence, and Establishment; 2009 African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention ); 2018 African Union Migration Policy Framework in Africa (MPFA); 2018 African Union Protocol on Free Movement of Persons; 2020 Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in East Africa (IGAD) Region; 2022 Kampala Ministerial Declaration on Migration, Environment, and Climate Change (KDMECC).
[10] The Pacific region has similarly advanced regional frameworks to address climate mobility: 2016 Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific; 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security; 2023 Regional Framework on Climate Mobility; 2023 Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty , under which Australia introduced a special visa arrangement. Such an initiative allows up to 280 Tuvaluans to live, work, and study in Australia annually. Notably, this is not classified as a refugee visa but provides alternative pathways for migration in the context of climate change.
[11] Provisionally applied since 1 January 2024, the Samoa Agreement aligns with HABITABLE emphasis on preventive action by urging Parties to: 1. Develop and implement national adaptation plans and regional strategies; 2. Integrate climate adaptation measures across vulnerable sectors, such as infrastructures; 3. Establish robust governance systems for implementing adaptation measures; 4. Facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices on climate change at national and regional levels; 5. Enhance resilience through the implementation of monitoring and warning systems, as well as risk assessment capabilities.
