Coming October 2024: Tune in to Voices on the Move as we dive into the untold stories at the intersection of climate change and migration. Each episode unpacks the real-life impacts of environmental change, from droughts in Kenya to wildfires in Canada, and explores how communities are adapting and finding solutions. Join us as we uncover how politics, language, and personal resilience are shaping responses to a warming world. Don't just listen to the news - understand the stories behind it.

Amplifying the voices of migration researchers, climate migrants, displaced persons, and community leaders - especially from the Global South - Voices on the Move provides both personal voices and scholarly insights. From Afghanistan to Ghana to Canada, it addresses climate-induced displacement, impacts on indigenous and rural populations, social and gender inequalities in mobility, and much more.

This series was co-produced by Migration Matters, York University, Samuel Hall, and the HABITABLE Project and funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The project is hosted by the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research at York University.

In this premiere episode of Voices on the Move, we delve into the complex relationship between climate change and migration. Experts Dr. François Gemenne (University of Liège), Dr. Nassim Majidi (Samuel Hall), and Dr. Yvonne Su (York University) challenge common assumptions such as "one billion climate refugees" and explore how climate impacts habitability, mobility, and policy, offering fresh insights into this critical global issue. We also begin to hear stories from those directly affected by climate change and displacement, whose experiences will be further explored in future episodes.

In this episode, we explore how terms like 'climate refugees' shape perceptions and policies, featuring insights from Professor Mo Hamza (Lund University) and Dr. Nassim Majidi (Samuel Hall). Through personal stories from Afghanistan and Somalia, we challenge labels, delve into real experiences behind the statistics, and discuss how responses can be best shaped to meet the needs of those affected - all to discover: What impact does the language we use have on responses to climate-induced migration and displacement?

Is climate change alone driving migration decisions? For agricultural communities, environmental and economic factors are deeply intertwined, making it difficult to pinpoint climate as the sole or even primary cause of mobility. This episode features the voices of local farmers in Ghana and Mali, along with insights from experts Dr. Mumuni Abu (University of Ghana) and Sidy Boly (National Institute of Statistics of Mali). They share how traditional livelihoods and gender roles are adapting to environmental changes and economic pressures, broadening our understanding of what habitability means.

What are the tipping points that compel people to migrate in the face of climate change? This episode looks at the personal and environmental factors that influence migration decisions. Through the stories of farmers in Ghana, we explore how economic opportunities, community ties, and individual perceptions shape responses to climate challenges. Dr. Rachel Keeton (University of Twente) and Dr. Ricardo Safra de Campos (University of Exeter) from the HABITABLE research project offer insights into the nuanced dynamics of staying or leaving in the face of environmental change.

In the Global North, climate change tends to be seen as something that happens elsewhere or in the future. But Canada's experience with natural disasters tells a different story. In this episode, a survivor of the devastating wildfires in Lytton, British Columbia, shares her story of escape, displacement, and the road to recovery. With insights from Dr. Yvonne Su (York University) and Dr. Will Greaves (University of Victoria), we discuss the intertwined challenges of emergency response, long-term recovery, and policy adaptation.

The 2021 wildfires in British Columbia didn’t just destroy homes; they severed deep-rooted connections between Indigenous communities and their ancestral lands. This episode, a follow-up to our previous discussion on Canada, features a survivor from an Indigenous community in Merritt, BC, who shares the profound impact of displacement. With insights from Dr. Yvonne Su (York University) and Dr. Will Greaves (University of Victoria), we explore how Indigenous knowledge, community resilience, and multi-level governance must shape Canada's climate response.

Women are disproportionately affected by climate change and immobility, yet they are often at the forefront of finding solutions. This episode features stories from Kenya and Nigeria, where women share how climate challenges have reshaped their roles and livelihoods. Experts Dr. Nassim Majidi (Samuel Hall) and Priscilla Achakpa (Women Environmental Programme) discuss the importance of a gender-sensitive approach to climate policy, emphasizing the need for cultural, economic, and political changes to support women's resilience and adaptation.