Klimaflucht und Klimamigration: Forschungsprojekt des MSO23 Gruppe 1 des Studiengangs Master Soziale Arbeit

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Abstract

Climate change caused by human activities impacts the lives of millions of people and presents new challenges for social work. The aim of this research was to gain a comprehensive overview of the topics of climate migration and climate displacement, because they are of direct relevance to social work.
Based on a comprehensive analysis of the existing scientific literature, four sub-studies were conducted. In Study 1, three experts were interviewed using semi-standardized interviews to shed light on the positions of IOM, Global2000, and Caritas Upper Austria on the topics of climate migration and climate displacement. In Study 2, 133 first-generation migrants participated in an online survey to explore the importance of climate change in their own migration decisions. In Study 3, narrative interviews were conducted with five people with recognized refugee status to examine to which extent climate-related changes in their home countries were motives for their flight. Study 4 comprised 121 social work students across Austria to determine the extent to which the topics of climate migration and climate displacement are integrated in their education.
The three experts point out that the term "climate displacement" is problematic from a legal perspective because climate-related changes do not constitute an official reason for displacement under the Geneva Refugee Convention. 11% of the first-generation migrants surveyed stated that "climate" was a motive for their migration. For the people who migrated as refugees, political circumstances were their primary reason, while weather conditions and precarious water supplies were indirect reasons for their flight. The social work students perceive climate migration and climate displacement as highly relevant topics for social work practice although climate change related topics are only rarely teached at applied universities.
To do justice to the self-image of social work as a human rights profession, it is beneficial to raise awareness that climate protection also involves protecting people. More courses on climate change and climate protection at applied universities are needed, and lobbying is necessary to ensure that climate-related reasons for migration and flight get legally recognized in the future.
Original languageGerman (Austria)
PublisherFachhochschule Oberösterreich
Number of pages106
Place of PublicationLinz
Publication statusPublished - 2025

Publication series

NameForschungsprojekte Master Soziale Arbeit
Volume2023

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