Climate change is accelerating displacement, yet international legal frameworks inadequately protect those most affected, particularly women and individuals with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, expressions and sex characteristics (SOGIESC). This project examines how climate-induced mobility intersects with gender, sexuality, and structural vulnerability, focusing on Indigenous and community-led responses in Kiribati and Aotearoa New Zealand.
In Kiribati, slow-onset sea level rise drives large-scale displacement and government initiatives such as the “Migration with Dignity” programme and land acquisition in Fiji. In Aotearoa New Zealand, rising seas exacerbate health and housing inequities, while Māori legal traditions and grassroots organising offer relational approaches to resilience, belonging, and climate justice. Guided by intersectionality, feminist and queer migration scholarship, postcolonial legal thought, and Indigenous legal traditions, the study employs a mixed-methods design combining Participatory Action Research, photovoice, community filmmaking, semi-structured interviews, and doctrinal and policy analysis. Quantitative methods will map displacement patterns and socio-environmental indicators to generate evidence for policy, advocacy, and legal reform.
The project investigates how gender, sexuality, and colonial legacies shape climate displacement, evaluates existing legal frameworks, and examines how Indigenous and community-led approaches can inform just, culturally grounded, and intersectional responses. Data will be co-produced with local communities, adhering to Indigenous data sovereignty principles. Findings will provide actionable insights for policymakers, NGOs, and funders, highlighting evidence-based strategies to advance inclusive, sustainable, and equitable climate adaptation.
This research is an ideal fit with SEDarc’s interdisciplinary, challenge-led vision, combining innovative methods, advanced data analysis, and actionable insights to address urgent environmental and social justice challenges.