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