Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/11375/25933
Title: | A Scoping Study Into How Human Population Movement in the Context of Climate Change is Discussed in Law and Policy |
Authors: | Girdler, Hannah |
Advisor: | Newbold, K. Bruce |
Department: | Global Health |
Publication Date: | 2020 |
Abstract: | This thesis explores the policies, programs and laws that exist for those individuals moving due to the environment in the context of climate change. Population movement within and between countries was examined to better understand the impact that different ways of discussing climate change related migration has on policies and access, as well as political action and inaction. Utilizing the Arksey and O’Malley scoping review methodology, this thesis aimed to determine the current extent of research, as well as highlight existing gaps. 281 documents (210 from academic databases and 71 from grey literature databases) were accepted for this study and thematically analyzed. Three key themes emerged: 1. The scope of the publications fit into three overarching categories: service provision following specific climatic events and natural disasters; overviews and analysis into national and regional policy planning; and discussions surrounding the international implications regarding law, policy and practice. 2. Consensus exists that individuals who move because of climate change and the environment are not protected in current international and domestic laws and policies. 3. There is a division between top-down and bottom-up perspectives and approaches around this topic. The three themes identified highlight a polarizing divide within the literature around human movement due to the environment. This thesis illustrates that a dominant narrative is present throughout most of the literature around population movement due to the environment, and that this narrative has come at the expense of silenced perspectives. Moving forward, the prioritization of documents that focus on the international level, securitization and top down perspectives, over documents that focus on local perspectives and harness climate justice principles must be reconciled. As research and policy moves forward, the gaps identified in this study must be addressed to appropriately amplify the voices of those most negatively impacted by climate change. |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/11375/25933 |
Appears in Collections: | Open Access Dissertations and Theses |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Girdler_Hannah_C_2020September_MSc.pdf | 773.95 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Items in MacSphere are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.