Climate Displacement in Island Nations: A Bibliometric Mapping of Tuvalu and the Maldives

Abstract

Climate change is increasingly inducing climate-induced displacement across the globe, forcing individuals to migrate as situations worsen. The current study analyzes the climate-induced displacement of the Maldives and Tuvalu, two of the world's most vulnerable island nations threatened with being made uninhabitable due to sea-level rise. The low-lying island nations face extinction through submergence of land, livelihood loss, and ultimate displacement of entire communities. These climatic stresses are causing intra and cross-border migration with far-reaching socio-political and economic implications. The aim of this research is to investigate the socio-political and economic impacts of climate displacement in Tuvalu and the Maldives, particularly on how climate change influences social organization, economic living standards, and population movement. The study  examine how environmental degradation contributes to problems such as loss of territory, lack of resources, and economic susceptibility, ultimately causing climate flows of refugees. The research focus on the capability of international and national policy mechanisms to respond to climate-induced displacement as climate refugees are not acknowledged by international law. The research contribute towards a better insight into the linkage between climate change and migration and propose rights-based, sustainable action through the development of policy and legal gaps. The research also analyze the role of international organizations, governments, and host communities in managing climate migration and organizing cooperative action for adaptation and mitigation.