European (im)migration policy and environmental change: institutional and governance gaps

摘要

Immigration gains a new dimension when climate and/or environmental change contribute to migration. This article defines and explores concepts related to environmentally induced migration, analyses the relevant policies or lack thereof, and suggests ways to bridge the policy gaps that exist in this area. Environmental events or changes are categorised into rapid- or slow-onset processes, and policies for and responses to each category are further explored and explained. Although some regions are equipped to handle an influx of migrants due to these particular circumstances, the majority of regions investigated have policies that can only partially respond to this phenomenon.