Climate Change and Human Displacement: Emerging Global Trends
Rossen Koroutchev *
Institute for Climate, Atmosphere and Water Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 66 Tzarigradsko Chaussee Blvd., 1784 Sofia, Bulgaria and Group of Geographic Information Technology (GeoTIG), Departments of Geography, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, Paseo de la Senda del Rey No 7, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This manuscript examines the impacts of climate change on human displacement caused by natural hazards and environmental processes, including floods, droughts, and global temperature variations. The study employs a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative data analysis with qualitative research techniques. Statistical analyses based on official datasets and scientific literature are integrated with simulations and fieldwork data collected in Spain. The results provide future projections of the effects of climate change on global populations and migration patterns driven by its economic consequences. The spatial and temporal distributions of natural disasters reveal significant geographical inequalities, highlighting the heightened vulnerability of regions in Africa and Asia. A case study of climate-induced migration in southern Spain is also presented. In addition, the manuscript addresses the issue of energy poverty in Europe and especially Bulgaria, offering a comprehensive perspective on both the physical impacts of climate change and their broader societal consequences, particularly for vulnerable populations. The study concludes that climate-driven mobility is a large-scale, complex, and interconnected process that requires more integrated and coordinated policy responses. In particular, it emphasizes the need to align humanitarian assistance, climate adaptation, and sustainable development strategies, while placing greater emphasis on prevention and anticipatory action.
Keywords: Climate change, climate migrations, adaptation, energy poverty, Spain, Bulgaria