Climate change and human mobility are reshaping health in ways we are only beginning to understand
When we think about climate change and health, we often picture heatwaves, bushfires or the spread of infectious diseases. But another growing challenge is receiving far less attention: what happens to people’s health when climate change forces them to move—or prevents them from moving at all.
A new interdisciplinary research agenda argues that understanding the connections between climate change, human mobility and health is now more urgent than ever. While researchers have extensively studied climate change, migration and health as separate issues, far less is known about how they interact.
As climate-related disasters become more frequent and severe, millions of people face difficult decisions about whether to leave their homes or stay behind. Both choices can have profound consequences for physical, mental and social wellbeing.
People displaced by floods, cyclones or wildfires may experience injuries, trauma and disrupted access to healthcare while living in temporary shelters. Others who relocate voluntarily in search of safer conditions often face new challenges, including interrupted medical care, discrimination and difficulties accessing health services. Meanwhile, those who remain in high-risk locations—whether through choice or because they lack the resources to move—may face deteriorating health as essential services and infrastructure come under increasing strain.
The research identifies four priority areas that deserve greater attention.
The first focuses on the stories we tell about climate mobility. Public and political narratives often portray climate migration as a security threat, influencing public attitudes and policy responses. The researchers argue that future work should better understand how these narratives shape behaviour while creating more opportunities for affected communities—particularly Indigenous peoples—to tell their own stories and share their lived experiences.
The second area examines legal and policy frameworks. Current international laws offer limited protection for people displaced by climate change, leaving many without clear legal rights or access to healthcare and social support. The researchers argue that more equitable policies, grounded in principles of climate mobility justice, are needed to protect both mobile and immobile populations.
A third research priority explores how decisions about moving—or staying—affect health and wellbeing. Mobility is rarely a simple choice. Factors such as cultural identity, connection to place, family ties, economic circumstances and government policies all influence decision-making. For many Indigenous communities, remaining connected to Country and ancestral lands is fundamental to wellbeing, meaning relocation can carry deep emotional, cultural and spiritual consequences that conventional adaptation planning often overlooks.
The final priority highlights the need to strengthen health systems. Climate-related disasters place enormous pressure on healthcare services, particularly when large numbers of people are displaced. The researchers call for more culturally responsive healthcare, better communication across language barriers and improved planning to ensure vulnerable populations—including children, older adults and people with disabilities—receive appropriate care before, during and after climate emergencies.
Ultimately, the authors argue that addressing the health impacts of climate change requires more than preparing for disasters. It demands a coordinated approach that recognises the complex relationships between climate change, mobility, health, culture and justice.
By bringing together expertise from fields including geography, public health, psychology, law, economics and political science, this interdisciplinary research agenda provides a roadmap for future research and policy. Most importantly, it calls for solutions that place affected communities at the centre of decision-making and ensure health equity remains at the heart of climate adaptation in an increasingly mobile world.
AUTHORS
Professor Andreas Neef is a member of the Griffith Asia Institute.
This article is a synopsis of the journal article: Neef, A., Brenner, T., Christiansen, H., Farbotko, C., Henry, D. H., Lewis, M., Ann-Christine Link, A-C., Nalau, J., Pernice-Warnke, S., Pietsch, J., Ranse, J., Röder, A., Rutherford, S., Steimanis, I., Suliman, S. and Vollan, B. (2026). Health dimensions. Climate and Development, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2026.2667495