Communities across the Gulf have identified a need for alternative migration strategies, policies, and processes. Partners want approaches that are less burdensome, are responsive to ways in which people already are migrating in the region, enable communities to determine their own migration plans, and result in more equitable outcomes. We are working to understand and improve existing climate migration policies and how they are implemented in practice while working towards larger transformational change.

In response to these identified needs, the Center is supporting legal frameworks and approaches to community-led migration by focusing on the following objectives:

• Addressing Policy and Legal Barriers. The Center is working to identify and understand the specific policies, practices, and legal interpretations that act as barriers to equitable, community-led migration.

• Communication Strategies. The Center is researching effective communication approaches that support community-led migration and will share findings with partners across the Gulf Coast.

• Piloting Community-Led Approaches. The Center is supporting the development and piloting of novel community-led approaches to migration.

Read more about the Center’s focus on community-led migration in the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan here.