Expert Analysis: Environmental Change, Conflict, and Human Migration in the Mediterranean Basin

Chapter 6. The environmental change-conflict-migration nexus and uneven challenges of adaptation

Executive summary

Environmental change in the Mediterranean region exacerbates intersectional inequalities and poses challenges to existing governance structures, particularly with regard to human mobility and conflict. The complexities of these issues are compounded by a lack of empirical studies, methodological shortcomings, and limited access to data, hindering a comprehensive understanding of the phenomena. Addressing these challenges requires collective and collaborative efforts across local, national, regional, and international scales.

Migration is increasingly seen as a form of adaptation that operates across these various scales, while empirical evidence in the Mediterranean challenges the notion of migration as adaptation. To effectively tackle these issues, addressing the root causes of vulnerability, enhancing adaptation capacities, and promoting transformative adaptation strategies is crucial. However, environmental change in the Mediterranean has been securitised, prioritising certain threats such as conflict and migration over others, which may skew policy responses and resource allocations.

How to cite the report

Acara, E., Wilkens, J., Behnassi, M., Eklund, L., Fröhlich, C., Trombetta, M.J., 2026: The environmental changeconflict-migration-nexus and uneven challenges of adaptation. In: Environmental change, conflict, and human migration in the Mediterranean Basin. [Lange, M.A.; Majdalani, R.; Cramer, W.; Guiot, J.; Gattacceca, J.C., Marini, K. (eds.)]. MedECC Secretariat, Marseille, France, pp. 185-205. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.17901689

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