The last twenty years have seen a rapid increase in scholarly activity and publications dedicated to environmental migration and displacement, and the field has now reached a point in terms of profile, complexity, and sheer volume of reporting that a general review and assessment of existing knowledge and future research priorities is warranted. So far, such a product does not exist.

The Routledge Handbook of Environmental Displacement and Migration provides a state-of-the-science review of research on how environmental variability and change influence current and future global migration patterns and, in some instances, trigger large-scale population displacements. Drawing together contributions from leading researchers in the field, this compendium will become a go-to guide for established and newly interested scholars, for government and policymaking entities, and for students and their instructors. It explains theoretical, conceptual, and empirical developments that have been made in recent years; describes their origins and connections to broader topics including migration research, development studies, and international public policy and law; and highlights emerging areas where new and/or additional research and reflection are warranted.

The structure and the nature of the book allow the reader to quickly find a concise review relevant to conducting research or developing policy on particular topics, and to obtain a broad, reliable survey of what is presently known about the subject.

About the Author

Robert McLeman is a former foreign service officer specializing in migration management and is presently Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada.

Francois Gemenne is Director of the Hugo Observatory at the University of Liege, Belgium, the first research centre dedicated to the interactions between environmental change and human migration. A political scientist by training, he is also the executive director of the research programme Politics of the Earth at Sciences Po in Paris, where he is a lecturer in environmental politics.

Reviews

"Environmental migration and displacement is a massive phenomenon, a new wicked universality whose political influence is felt everywhere. This book is important not only for those who document the pace and size of the phenomenon, but also for those in receiving countries who must learn how to cope with it." --Bruno Latour, sociologist and philosopher, France

"This handbook allows us to anticipate impending disasters, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami which was one of the first topics of discussion for my government, and the volume calls for rapid solutions. I am optimistic and I believe that we can save the planet, because the world has equipped itself with the knowledge and technology to do so. This is a most helpful guide for political parties who want to formulate responsible and vote winning polices. It's a blue print for NGOs interested in doing good. It's the definitive guide on the subject and a good read." -- Mohamed Nasheed, former President of the Maldives

"This Handbook is essential reading and a key teaching resource for everyone interested in an interdisciplinary approach to climate change and migration. McLeman and Gemenne succeed in bringing together a state of the art collection of articles that provide a comprehensive survey of current thinking, not only on the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of a quickly expanding field of research, but also on the available empirical evidence as well as current developments in the areas of law and policy." -- Walter Kalin, Special Envoy of the Chairmanship of the Platform on Disaster Displacement

"This Handbook will be a resource to policy makers to identify the current state of the science on the impacts, responses and best practices relating to environmental migration and displacement." -- Mary Robinson, President, Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice, Ireland

Book Information
ISBN 9780367521509
Author Robert McLeman
Format Paperback
Page Count 464
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 1560g