Type

Journal Article

Author(s)

Geddes, A.
Somerville, W.

Title

Migration and environmental change in international governance: the case of the European Union

Year

2012

Journal

Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy

Vol (No), pp

30, 1015-1028

Abstract

With this paper we analyse and assess the role of the European Union (EU) in
the governance of migration linked to environmental change. We trace the emergence of
migration linked to environmental change as an issue on the EU agenda and examine both
issue defi nition and the institutional location of EU responses. The EU is identifi ed as a
particularly signifi cant potential actor in the broader debate about environmental change
and migration, as it is the world’s most developed form of regionalised supranational
governance with responsibilities in the areas of both environmental and migration policy,
albeit with little connection made, as yet, between the two. We show that the relationship
between migration and environmental change emerged as an issue for the EU’s foreign
policy community before becoming part of the EU’s ‘Global Approach to Migration and
Mobility’. We argue that there is a compelling argument for consideration of migration
and environmental change in the context of adaptation and development policies, as
well as broader debate and contestation of the meaning of these policies. This involves a
rethink of some of the precepts and practices informing EU migration and asylum policy

Citation

Geddes, A. and W. Somerville (2012). “Migration and environmental change in international governance: the case of the European Union.” Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 30: 1015-1028.