This workshop proposes to convene researchers of the climate-migration relationship from multiple geographic and disciplinary focus areas to exchange knowledge on the strengths and limitations of various modeling approaches, validation techniques, and to identify productive avenues of future research across multiple migration modeling tools. Such questions include intercomparison (i.e. understanding similarities and differences in how different types of models characterize the link between climate change and migration for a common case study) and/or integration (i.e. using results and insights from models at multiple geographic scales to address the climate-migration relationship in a more systematic or nuanced way), as well as better integration of theoretical insights in modeling approaches. Participation is by invitation only.
Workshop objectives
- Exchange insights about the value and limitations of different modeling frameworks (and their theoretical underpinnings) to understand the potential complementarity of each approach in analyzing the climate-migration relationship across geographic and temporal scales;
- Identify two or more common case studies, and a set of standardized scenarios, to compare findings from different models about climatic impacts on migration;
- Discuss approaches for validation of predictions and/or projections resulting from climate-migration models;
- Identify novel research questions that could be addressed through the integration of results/findings from models at different scales (i.e. “soft coupling” of models), and/or through computationally integrating different models across scales (i.e. “hard coupling” of models);
- Start building a network of researchers across diverse geographies, institutions, disciplines, and career stages who will contribute to the development of a structured climate migration modeling intercomparison effort;
- Engage policymaking organizations and institutes who translate academic research to policy briefs in order to identify key knowledge needs from migration policy practitioners;
- Develop a proposal for an NSF Research Coordination Network or similar opportunity to fund long term (e.g. 3+ years) climate migration model intercomparison research
Conveners
- Fabien Cottier, CIESIN, Columbia University ([email protected])
- Nicholas Choquette-Levy, Department of Global Development, Cornell University ([email protected])
- Alex de Sherbinin, CIESIN, Columbia University ([email protected])
- Michael Oppenheimer, C-PREE, Princeton University ([email protected])
- Andrew R. Bell, Department of Global Development, Cornell University ([email protected])
- Sarah Rosengaertner, UN Global Center for Climate Mobility ([email protected])
- Tingyin Xiao, C-PREE, Princeton University ([email protected])
- Thomas Bearpark, C-PREE, Princeton University ([email protected])
For any question related to the workshop, please contact Fabien Cottier or Nicholas Choquette-Levy.
Financial support
We are deeply grateful to the LDEO Climate Center at Columbia University, Cornell University, the Center for Policy on Energy and Environment (C-PREE) at Princeton University and the UN Global Centre for Climate Mobility (GCCM) for their generous financial support. The workshop takes place under the Global Knowledge Partnership/Hub between the Columbia Climate School and the GCCM.