1. The migration-sustainability paradox: transformations in mobile worlds
- Author
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Edward R. Carr, Tasneem Siddiqui, Ricardo Safra de Campos, Dominique Jolivet, Caroline Zickgraf, Samuel Na Codjoe, Anita H. Fábos, Mumuni Abu, Sonja Fransen, Emily Boyd, W.N. Adger, Maria Franco Gavonel, Maastricht Graduate School of Governance, RS: GSBE MGSoG, and RS: UNU-MERIT Theme 6
- Subjects
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Inequality ,DEMOGRAPHIC-TRANSITION ,media_common.quotation_subject ,21ST-CENTURY ,Identity (social science) ,010501 environmental sciences ,Economic globalization ,01 natural sciences ,OUT-MIGRATION ,ENVIRONMENTAL-CHANGE ,Phenomenon ,Economics ,GLOBALIZATION ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,General Environmental Science ,media_common ,Sustainable development ,ECONOMIC-GROWTH ,REMITTANCES ,General Social Sciences ,HOST COUNTRY ,LIFE ,Transformative learning ,IMMIGRATION ,Social transformation ,Sustainability ,Economic system - Abstract
Migration represents a major transformation of the lives of those involved and has been transformative of societies and economies globally. Yet models of sustainability transformations do not effectively incorporate the movementof populations. There is an apparent migration-sustainability paradox: migration plays a role as a driver of unsustainability as part of economic globalisation, yet simultaneously represents a transformative phenomenon and potential forcefor sustainable development. We propose criteria by which migration represents an opportunity for sustainable development: increasing aggregate well-being; reduced inequality leading to diverse social benefits; and reducedaggregate environmental burden. We detail the dimensions of the transformative potential of migration and develop a generic framework for migration-sustainability linkages based on environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability, highlighting identity and social transformation dimensions of migration. Such a model overcomes the apparent paradox by explaining the role of societal mobility in achieving sustainable outcomes.
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