A new study from an international team of researchers has looked at how residents in Vietnam and Kenya perceive those forced to migrate because of extreme climates. 

The research team, including Dr Quynh Nguyen from The Australian National University (ANU) say climate-induced migration is becoming more common. 

“Less developed countries are the most vulnerable to climate change,” Dr Nguyen said. 

“We also know most climate change-induced migration – or environmental migration – happens within countries rather than across borders, with people relocating to big cities. 

“This in turn can lead to competition for jobs, put pressure on facilities, and stir existing cultural or ethnic tensions.” 

The researchers found short term climate events and long-term climate conditions are seen as legitimate reasons to migrate in both countries. 

However, the study also showed climate migrants are seen as no more deserving than economic migrants, according to Dr Nguyen. 

“These findings need to be interpreted in the broader socio-economic context of both countries,” she said. 

“Both Vietnam and Kenya are low-income countries in which a lot of people move to cities to improve their economic situation. 

“Because of this, citizens might have a more positive view of economic migration.  

Whether people have been exposed to many climate migrants could also be a factor. 

“For instance, in Vietnam, residents were significantly less likely to report sympathy towards climate migrants compared to migrants seeking to be reunited with their families,” Dr Nguyen said. 

“If residents are less exposed to a certain type of migrant, they might be less welcoming of that group than others with which they are more familiar.” 

The research has been published in the journal Nature Climate Change

Top image: Yun Huang Yong/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Contact the media team

Jess Fagan

Media Manager


You may also like

Article Card Image

ANU experts to power path to all-electric ACT

A map to guide the ACT’s transition to an all-electric economy will be developed by ANU experts.

Article Card Image

ANU experts on COP28

Experts from The Australian National University (ANU) are available to comment on the 2023 United Nations (UN) climate change summit, COP28.

Article Card Image

Animals facing eviction from homes as hotter temperatures could spark global displacement  

Hotter temperatures sparked by human-caused climate change are forcing animals on land and sea to abandon their habitats, threatening their survival.

Subscribe to ANU Reporter

Anu Logo

+61 2 6125 5111

The Australian National University, Canberra

CRICOS Provider: 00120C

ABN: 52 234 063 906

EDX Logo
APRU Logo
IARU Logo
Group of eight Australia Logo