Evaluating the Policy-Making Framework Around Climate-Induced migration

Introduction

Climate change is not a future problem but affects people’s lives today. One consequence of climate change that is increasingly discussed is its effect on increased migration. The climate-induced migration mainly occurs within countries and in cities, but when borders are crossed, it is usually done to neighboring states (Ash & Campbell, 2016). The countries hit disproportionately hard, considering their small populations are island nations in the South Pacific. The Pacific islands are particularly vulnerable as the entire existence of certain states is threatened due to rising sea levels. In these areas, climate change’s effect on migration is also feared to be evident (Hugo, 2010, p. 10). Kiribati is a country in the Pacific Ocean that, due to its status as a low-lying island, experiences increased vulnerability and poorer conditions for adaptation because the habitable land area is slowly but surely decreasing (Thornton et al., 2021, p. 2). Talking about “sinking islands” may be considered alarmist, but asking how climate-induced migration to and from Kiribati is managed in policy is well worth asking.

Based on the problems described above, there is a great need for policy in the area. As internal migration continues to be the most common form of climate-induced migration, the policy at the national level is central, but also migration policy in countries less affected by climate change is important (Brown, 2008, p. 39). Given Kiribati’s particularly vulnerable situation as a low-lying island with limited opportunities for internal migration, the relationship between the country and neighboring states is of great relevance. Kiribati’s relationship with New Zealand is particularly important, as it is where most transnational migration occurs today (Thornton et al., 2021, p. 11). A comparison between these countries is interesting regarding their different roles – Kiribati as a potential sending country of climate migrants and New Zealand as a likely recipient. The countries’ different relationship to the phenomenon means that the essay also sheds light on the more worldwide power asymmetries between nations in the global North and South. Power asymmetries are based on past colonial experiences, current and historical contributions to greenhouse gas emissions, and the consequences countries are expected to suffer due to climate change. The existing research that studies the view of climate-induced migration in the Pacific is currently scarce, and examining how the phenomenon is represented within the region is therefore important (Remling, 2020, p. 2). Several representations of climate-induced migration have previously been identified in the research, of which two central to the study are climate-induced migration as a challenge or an adaptation measure.

How the phenomenon is represented affects which policies are proposed and constructs the migrant as a subject (Methmann & Oels, 2015; Ranson-Cooper et al., 2015). Examining problem representations of climate-induced migration in government policy is crucial because governments have a privileged role in creating these as their understanding of a “problem” is used as a policy tool and cemented through legislation (C. Bacchi, 2009, p. 33). Therefore, Examining the problem representations found in the countries’ policies and whether they differ is interesting. By examining the relationship between migration and climate change, the essay also highlights the conflict regarding governance and sovereignty that arises when dealing with the phenomenon. The conflict arises as climate change is a global and cross-border problem that is largely managed through international cooperation (Vogler, n.d., p. 388), while there is a lack of global governance mechanisms for the management of transnational migration, where national sovereignty and national borders are highly valued (Castles, 2014, p. 202). The interlinking of these two phenomena forms an interesting starting point in analyzing policy in the area.