Climate relocation must give people a voice: Neil Adger

Professor Neil Adger of the University of Exeter has said planned relocation can provide a durable solution to climate-induced displacement if affected communities have a meaningful voice in deciding their future and new settlements are supported by adequate public services.

During an interview ahead of the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit’s (RMMRU) 30th anniversary international conference, Adger said climate impacts were escalating, making planned relocation an increasingly important issue for countries such as Bangladesh.

He said relocation should not focus solely on providing houses but must also include public services, public spaces, gardens and other facilities needed to create viable communities. Displaced people, he stressed, must have agency in planning their movement.

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“Fewer projects, but do them better” should be the approach, Adger said, noting that planned relocation would likely become more expensive and access to suitable land remained a major challenge.

Adger, who has collaborated with RMMRU for around 15 years, said Bangladesh had valuable lessons to offer the international community on planned relocation, identifying people at risk from climate change and managing migration in cities.

He said the RMMRU conference could showcase the contribution of Bangladeshi research and science to global debates.

On improving living conditions and livelihoods for climate-displaced communities, Adger emphasised human rights, agency and empowerment. He also stressed the role of government in providing infrastructure and creating democratic spaces where communities, civil society and the private sector can prepare for future challenges.

He said research itself should empower affected communities rather than simply treating people as sources of data. Researchers should engage directly with local communities, stakeholders and city officials so that the research process contributes to meaningful change.

For Bangladesh, Adger said implementation of existing policies should remain a priority. He particularly pointed to the Delta Plan and called for stronger attention to coastal communities, secure land tenure, the right to move, opportunities for return and circular migration, and safe and resilient destinations for migrants.

He also warned against excessive concentration of Bangladesh’s population in a few large metropolitan areas. Such concentration could create challenges related to food security, congestion and exposure to climate risks.

Adger said maintaining vibrant rural economies was equally important, arguing that investment in rural services and communities would support sustainable futures and reduce the pressures that contribute to distress migration.

He called for an integrated approach linking climate adaptation, regional development and public services across government, saying Bangladesh’s future planning should encompass sectors ranging from education and labour to the environment and central planning.

Reflecting on his long collaboration with Bangladesh, Adger said the country’s scientific community had much to share with the world. He described his continued work with RMMRU and Bangladeshi researchers as “a joy, a delight and an honour.”