Course: Environmental migration

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Course title Environmental migration
Course code VPK/UEM
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminar
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction eLearning
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Melotíková Petra, Mgr. Ph.D.
  • Macková Lucie, M.A., Ph.D.
Course content
1. What is migration and why do people migrate? 2. Definition of environmental migration 3. The status of environmental migrants in international law 4. Causes of environmental migration - push factors 5. Causes of environmental migration - pull factors 6. Consequences of environmental migration at the micro and macro levels 7. The concept of immobility, vulnerability, and resilience in environmental migration 8. The link between conflict and environmental migration 9. Case study: Bangladesh 10. Case study: Kiribati 11. The role of the international community in addressing environmental migration

Learning activities and teaching methods
Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training), Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work with Text (with Book, Textbook), Group work
Learning outcomes
The aim of the course is to familiarize students with environmental migration and displacement and their causes and consequences. The course discusses the fact that environmental migration is the result of interactions between environmental, cultural, demographic, economic, political, and social processes on various scales. Environmental migration also encompasses a wide range of people, from those who move voluntarily in search of opportunities to those who are forced to move due to a lack of safe alternatives. The course will present selected case studies from different regions of the world to illustrate broader trends in environmental migration. Possible efforts to address the problems associated with environmental migration will also be discussed.
1. Understand environmental migration in the context of global environmental problems and the climate crisis. Identify the links between environmental migration, displacement, and their international legal framework, and contribute to the fulfillment of SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). 2. Analyze and interpret professional texts related to environmental migration, understand new approaches to migration, with an emphasis on developing critical thinking in line with SDG 4 (Quality Education). 3. Develop competencies to address legal challenges related to environmental migration, including the impacts of climate change on forced displacement and options for protecting displaced persons, thereby supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
Prerequisites
The completion of this course is not conditioned upon completion of any other courses

Assessment methods and criteria
Student performance, Seminar Work, Written exam

Continuous quizzes (40%), independent final written assignment (50%), feedback on other assignments (peer grading) (10%)
Recommended literature
  • Afifi, T. (2019). Economic or environmental migration? The push factors in Niger. International Migration, 49, e95?e124.
  • Bates, D. C. (2002). Environmental refugees? Classifying human migrations caused by environmental change. Population and environment, 23, 465?477.
  • Boas, I., Wiegel, H., Farbotko, C., Warner, J., & Sheller, M. (2022). Climate mobilities: Migration, im/mobilities and mobility regimes in a changing climate. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 48(14), 3365?3379..
  • Donner, S. D., & Webber, S. (2014). Obstacles to climate change adaptation decisions: A case study of sea-level rise and coastal protection measures in Kiribati. Sustainability Science, 9(3), 331?345..
  • Hartmann, B. Rethinking climate refugees and climate conflict: Rhetoric, reality and the politics of policy discourse.
  • Klepp, S., & Herbeck, J. (2016). The politics of environmental migration and climate justice in the Pacific region.. Journal of Human Rights and the Environment, 7(1), 54?73.
  • Marino, E. (2012). The long history of environmental migration: Assessing vulnerability construction and obstacles to successful relocation in Shishmaref, Alaska. Global environmental change, 22(2), 374?381.
  • Martin, S. F. (2012). Environmental change and migration: Legal and political frameworks. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 30(6), 1045?1060..
  • Massey, D. S., Axinn, W. G., & Ghimire, D. J. (2010). Environmental change and out-migration: Evidence from Nepal. Population and Environment, 32, 109?136.
  • Maye, B., & Crépeau, F. (Eds.). (2017). Research handbook on climate change, migration and the law. Edward Elgar Publishing..
  • McAdam, J. (2012). Climate change, forced migration, and international law.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Law Study plan (Version): Law and sustainability (2025) Category: Law, legal and public administration proceeding 3 Recommended year of study:3, Recommended semester: Winter
Faculty: Faculty of Law Study plan (Version): Law and sustainability (2025) Category: Law, legal and public administration proceeding 2 Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: Winter
Faculty: Faculty of Law Study plan (Version): Law and sustainability (2025) Category: Law, legal and public administration proceeding 2 Recommended year of study:2, Recommended semester: Summer
Faculty: Faculty of Law Study plan (Version): Law and sustainability (2025) Category: Law, legal and public administration proceeding 3 Recommended year of study:3, Recommended semester: Summer