Duke Program on Climate-Related Migration
Duke University’s Program on Climate-Related Migration (PCRM), serves as a cross-disciplinary platform that brings together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to look more deeply into the interconnected nature of climate change and global migration. With ongoing research projects around the world, the team strives to include findings from both the social and natural sciences.
Duke University’s Program on Climate-Related Migration (PCRM) serves as a cross-disciplinary platform that brings together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to look more deeply into the interconnected nature of climate change and global migration. With ongoing research projects around the world, the team strives to include findings from both the social and natural sciences.
Explore our Program
Join Duke University for the 2023 Conference on Climate Change & Migration in Washington, DC on April 21
Transdisciplinary research to advance knowledge, policy solutions, and public understanding of the intersection between climate change, adaptation, and human mobility.
Transdisciplinary, multi-method research exploring the intersection of climate change and human mobility.
Translation of research findings to inform policy solutions on climate adaptation and migration.
Fact-based outreach to engage broad audiences and new actors in discussions on climate-related migration.
Program Directors
Duke University’s Program on Climate-Related Migration is co-directed by two researchers at the Sanford School of Public Policy – Sarah Bermeo and Kerilyn Schewel.
Rigorous Research
Our program’s work is centered around conducting rigorous research that looks at both local and global migratory trends arising from climate change. The following list provides selected ongoing and past research projects.
Climate Game Changers & Migration Models
Working through USAID’s Research Technical Assistance Center (RTAC), the PCRM team is leading a review of current literature on the following areas:
- Identifying potential climate “game changers” that could radically impact development and assessing potential solutions.
- Evaluating the strengths, limitations and real-world application of climate-related migration forecasting models.
Read the team’s final report on climate “Game Changers” and policy solutions for adaptation.
Read the team’s final report on climate migration models.
Migration and Development in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is highly vulnerable to climate change, and climate-related migration and immobility will become important issues in the coming decades. Rural-urban and international migration is on the rise in Ethiopia, but research suggests the most important drivers are not climate-related. This article analyzes the developmental drivers of migration in Ethiopia, including rising levels of education, infrastructure, economic diversification, and urbanization.
Read the full research paper here.
Student Research
The Duke Program on Climate-Related Migration (PCRM) provides funding for full-time undergraduate and graduate students at Duke for research topics related to climate change and migration, to attend relevant conferences, or to organize public engagement activities.
Public Engagement
Duke University researchers work with practitioners and experts from around the world to influence ongoing debates and inform the questions researchers are asking about climate-related migration.
Read about the launch of Duke University’s Program on Climate-Related Migration (PCRM) and an exciting, inter-disciplinary discussion between four Duke researchers on the challenges climate change poses to the world’s most vulnerable populations.
In Interview with United States Institute for Peace, Sarah Bermeo discusses how looming climate challenges are exacerbating the region’s struggles with poverty and insecurity, leaving many with no choice but to migrate.
Experts from around the world joined PCRM co-directors for the Rural Development & Capability to Stay Summer Workshop funded by the Social Science Research Council (SSRC).
In an article with Brookings, PCRM co-director, Sarah Bermeo, shared her thoughts on the nexus between climate migration and climate finance and lessons from the region can inform broader debates and policy responses.
Funding Acknowledgement
The Duke Program on Climate-Related Migration is supported through the generosity of Duke University’s Office of the Provost and Office for Global Affairs.
