As part of the California Fifth Climate Change Assessment, the California Governor’s Office has selected the Human Rights Center and UC Berkeley’s Othering & Belonging Institute to be lead authors of a report on Climate-Induced Human Migration and Displacement in the state. The report is focused on impacts that climate disasters have on communities people are forced to leave and relocate to — the economy, housing, transportation, health, energy, natural resources, emergency management, education, and community identity. A team of experts has been pulled together in each of these areas to lead the research and drafting of each section. The report will identify policy and research gaps that need to be filled by state and local governments in order to better protect displaced people, with an eye towards populations who are most at risk. The report will be published by the state in June 2026, and efforts will begin at that time to implement our findings.
Caption: The tragic fires sweeping across the Greater Los Angeles area in January 2025 have burned more than 40,000 acres, destroyed more than 12,300 structures, and prompted evacuation orders and warnings for as many as 200,000 residents. Image by the United States Geological Survey via Unsplash.
This project is funded by the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation.
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