Socio Economic Impacts of Climate Change on Coastal Communities – (Human Dimension of Climate Change & Displacement in the Mediterranean)

This session addresses the human dimension of climate change, specifically examining how environmental degradation, rising temperatures, and sea-level rise act as threat multipliers across the Mediterranean basin. Moving beyond purely physical climate models, the lecture establishes a comprehensive framework for understanding social vulnerability, climate-induced migration, and community resilience.

A central insight of the discussion is that climate-driven mobility is predominantly internal rather than international: roughly 80% of environmentally displaced individuals move within national borders, relocating from highly exposed coastal regions to inland urban centers. This demographic shift introduces complex socioeconomic challenges, including housing pressure and resource strain in receiving cities, alongside depopulation and economic decline in coastal areas of origin. To address these dynamics, the session outlines a structured five-stage forced migration management cycle spanning Prevention, Preparation, Channeling, Mitigation, and Durable Solutions. Furthermore, the discussion highlights the strategic role of migrant remittances, which account for 2% to 20% of GDP in origin regions, as critical financial leverage for local climate adaptation and rural development. Ultimately, the session underscores that building systemic climate resilience requires an inclusive governance approach centered on gender equity and intergenerational representation, ensuring that youth, women, and elderly populations are actively integrated into climate adaptation policy.