Planned relocation: a climate adaptation response for Southern Africa

Planned relocation in anticipation of climate impacts has much better outcomes than unplanned displacements in emergencies.

Despite contributing the least to climate change, Southern Africa is among the worst-affected regions in the world. People with the least resources to adapt to the effects of climate change will bear the greatest brunt. Adaptation costs are rising faster than the finance available to respond. Planned relocation is a potential, hitherto overlooked, measure that must be budgeted for and carried out proactively.

About the author

Aimée-Noël Mbiyozo is a Senior Research Consultant at the Institute for Security Studies. She is a migration expert whose research covers intersecting issues such as climate change, gender, refugee rights, violent extremism and citizenship in high-flow regions such as Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Photo: Amelia Broodryk/ISS