Climate migration between narratives and multilevel governance: genealogies, ambiguities, and emerging trajectories

Abstract

La migrazione climatica tra narrazioni e governance multilivello: genealogie, ambiguità e traiettorie emergenti - This article examines the relationship between climate change and human mobility, challenging linear causal explanations and the conceptual validity of the “climate migrant” category. It highlights the fragmented nature of the international legal framework and the EU’s difficulty in articulating a coherent governance approach, despite emerging interpretive openings in national systems such as Spain and Italy. The contribution advances a relational perspective that captures the interplay between environmental, social and institutional factors, and frames mobility as a potential form of adaptation rather than a deterministic outcome. This approach supports the development of governance tools grounded in climate justice and shared responsibility.

Keywords: Climate-induced mobility; Climate justice; Migration governance; Legal frameworks; Discursive constructions