Environmental non-migration: Analysis of drivers, factors, and their significance

Abstract

This study explains environmental non-migration, and considers an inverse relationship between the factors related to environmental migration. Results are based on an empirical study conducted in southwestern Bangladesh in March and April 2018. The results show that place attachment and future non-migration decisions are not significantly associated with the cases of sudden onset environmental events. However, most respondents with better relationships with their neighbors and extended family members had chosen to stay put. Other factors that influence environmental non-migration intention are (i) access to credit and economic opportunities, (ii) residing in a religious majority community, (iii) harmony in the community, (iv) lesser consequences of environmental hazards on home, livelihood, and community, and (v) perception of risk and risk-taking ability. All of these factors that influence non-migration decisions also help explain migration decisions. However, it is not entirely conclusive that all the factors that drive environmental migration will also explain non-migration despite risk or vice-versa. Thus, this study suggests investigating more thorough insights into environmental non-migrants so that more comprehensive risk and resilience programs can be arranged for those at risk. At the same time, it is essential to avoid treating non-migration and migration as exclusive categories and, perhaps to a certain extent, consider them as dynamic and intertwined processes.