Oleg Smirnov and Gallya Lahav delve into the often-overlooked topic of climate change-driven migration. Host Heather Lynch speaks with Smirnov and Lahav, associate professor and professor in the Department of Political Science, about the definitions and implications of climate migrants, the controversial term 'environmental refugees,' and the geopolitical ramifications of international climate negotiations, particularly the inconsistent participation in the United States. They explore the urgent need for revised international policies to address the growing number of people displaced by climate-related events.

Learn more with: 

• Refugee Convention of the Geneva

• The International Organization for Migration (IOM)

• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 

• “Climate Change, Drought, and Potential Environmental Migration Flows Under Different Policy Scenarios” by Gallya Lahav, Oleg Smirnov et al.

• “Two-wave panel survey dataset on who feels affected by Hurricane Florence” by Oleg Smirnov at al.

• “Collective risk social dilemma and the consequences of the US withdrawal from international climate negotiations” by Oleg Smirnov

  
  

Skip ahead to the chapter that interests you:

• 00:00 Introduction to Climate-Driven Migration

• 02:04 Understanding Climate Refugees

• 06:13 Drought as a Driver of Migration

• 11:27 The Finite Pool of Worry

• 14:57 Hurricane Florence Case Study

• 27:29 International Climate Negotiations

• 33:06 Future of Migration and Climate Change
• 36:14 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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C4E Presents is a production of Stony Brook’s Collaborative for the Earth.

Host: Heather Lynch

Editor: J.D. Allen

Program manager: Jennifer Gilday