Climate change presents unique and pressing challenges for communities in Fiji and Samoa, where severe climatic risks threaten livelihoods, homes, and cultural heritage. Amid the debate on whether migration should be a permanent adaptation strategy or a last-resort response, the potential of micro-mobilities (short-distance movement) and circular migration (short-duration movement) has often been overlooked. These adaptive strategies allow individuals and households to remain in place while enhancing their resilience to climate-related hazards.
What are micro-mobilities and circular migration?
Micro-mobilities involve small-scale, short-distance actions aimed at mitigating climate risks. For instance:
- Moving livestock to higher ground during floods.
- Establishing multi-local households to diversify risk by splitting family members across locations.
Circular migration, on the other hand, refers to short-term labour migration (usually less than a year), either within the country or across borders. This enables returning migrants to rebuild their livelihoods, homes, or businesses using the skills, knowledge, and capital gained during their time away.
These strategies not only provide practical solutions for managing climate risks but also empower communities to adapt without the need for permanent relocation.
Exploring the impact of mobility strategies
Our research project delves into the nuanced dynamics of micro-mobilities and circular migration in the Pacific, focusing on three key questions:
- Who can participate and what are the outcomes?
Not everyone can access these adaptive strategies. The project will explore who is able to engage in micro-mobilities or circular migration and assess the resilience outcomes for households and individuals who do. - Who Is excluded and why?
Vulnerable groups—such as those with disabilities, individuals constrained by traditional gender roles, or those limited by cultural norms—may face barriers to participation. These exclusions can leave certain individuals or groups in even more precarious situations. - How does mobility affect others?
The mobility of one group or individual can significantly impact the im/mobility of others. For example, when a breadwinner migrates for work, other family members may remain behind, shouldering the burden of caregiving or community responsibilities.
Informing policy for climate migration and planned relocation
By examining these dynamics, the study aims to provide actionable insights for policymakers in the Pacific. Understanding who benefits from and who is excluded from mobility strategies will be crucial in developing equitable climate migration policies and planned relocation frameworks.
This research underscores the importance of supporting adaptive strategies that enable communities to maintain their ties to place while building resilience to climate risks. By addressing the complex interplay of mobility and im/mobility, this project aims to contribute to more inclusive and effective approaches to climate adaptation in the Pacific.
Professor Andreas Neef is a member of the Griffith Asia Institute.
For more information about this research, visit the project website.
