Amidst the pressing challenges posed by climate change and its profound implications for migration patterns, this study, in collaboration with BRAC, explores the complex realm of climate migration. Through pilot surveys and survey experiments, it investigates the intricate interplay between climate change information and migration tendencies. Focusing on Bangladesh, a highly climate-vulnerable country, the study assesses the demand for a BRAC-designed climate migration programme and the causal impact of climate change information on that demand. The study employs a randomized controlled trial (RCT), with six groups receiving different climate information. The survey was conducted with 6,231 respondents from climate change-susceptible rural areas. Preliminary findings suggest a preference for local adaptation or nearby migration over more distant moves. These insights have far-reaching policy implications, advocating for strategies such as job diversification, decentralized urban opportunities, and the fortification of social safety nets.
Researchers: Gharad Bryan; Robin Burgess
Partners: BRAC Climate Change Programme; BRAC Ultra-Poor Development Programme
Timeline: 2021–2022
