Equitable Climate Migration Receiving Communities

Research estimates that approximately 30 million people in the US will relocate because of climate change impacts in the coming years. Much attention has been given to the places that may lose population, but less is known about the places that are set to receive people displaced because of climate change – or receiving areas. Many people will likely move to nearby communities because of existing social and economic ties, but some people may choose to move further away to places more inland and north. Regardless of geography, receiving communities must adequately prepare and plan for climate in-migration while managing existing community needs, equity, and climate goals. Aging infrastructure, economic opportunity, climate resilience, and anti-displacement and affordability must all be balanced. This panel will convene lived and learned experts from across the country to discuss the state of knowledge, policy, and research around climate migration impacts on receiving communities, the challenges they face, and opportunities to leverage the phenomenon for transformational change, focusing on the tools and policy recommendations available to planners. The session will draw from a March 2024 expert convening focused on the same topic. Additional speakers will be added, including front-line community members and local planners.