State of the Evidence on Climate (Im)mobilities and Well-Being

In this chapter, I assess the existing evidence with relevance to the research questions. Based on the review of the empirical knowledge on climate-immobility linkages as well as of the objective and subjective well-being impacts of (climate) (im)mobilities, I draw implications for this study. The review yielded a breadth of evidence on migration, but implications on immobility are uncertain. First, the evidence suggests that internal migration can have mixed effects on people’s OWB. Key determinants include how voluntarily and how prepared migrants can leave; under what conditions they move and into which contexts of reception they arrive; the time passed since settling; and how intersectional factors shape (dis-)advantages throughout the process. Some gains seem possible under positive conditions of moving but even then, high costs will likely accompany these gains. Finally, the effects on sending communities depend on the strength of translocal ties; remittances are one central effect but should not detract from others, including those on social relationships. Second, SWB effects greatly depend on context. As in other poor countries, most involuntary migrants and rural-to-urban migrants may be bound to lose present SWB. Only a few, specific groups of migrants might lose SWB shortly before migrating, but then make gains beyond the prior set range. It is possible that climate migrants’ SWB will remain worse than that of stayers and locals. Additionally, negative feelings are likely for stayers, but may be accompanied by positive feelings and gains in satisfaction, especially for poorer recipients of remittances in areas where migration is common. Strong stressors, including those related to climate change, could negatively shape outlooks to the future, but personal-level factors may create buffering effects. More positive views of the future are possible where migrants perceive opportunities, agency, and pathways to desired futures, including for next generations. Critically, if the affected people end up holding more hope or fear could have feedback effects on OWB. Third, the review shows that migrants’ OWB and SWB may converge or diverge, stressing the need to analyze both jointly. Finally, present SWB and views of the future can also converge to varying degrees depending on external and personal-level factors. This study intends to add insights into the array of possible outcomes.