Environmental Degradation and Conflict: From Vulnerabilities to Capabilities

Location

Environmental Degradation and Conflict - From Vulnerabilities to Capabilities

ESF-ZiF-Bielefeld Conference
Bielefeld, Germany
5-9 December 2010
www.esf.org/conferences/10328

This conference aims to shed light on the complex dynamics of environmentally induced migration and the associated societal processes. Toward this end, we seek to further the interdisciplinary debate and exchange of knowledge from the fields of migration, climate change, disaster, development, and others. Connecting vulnerability, capability and transnational approaches will help to link existing research and open new research venues for the future.

The conference will be structured along seven issue areas:

1. Analyzing the debate on “climate refugees” and its shortcomings from the point of view of migration studies.
2. Reflecting the vulnerability context in accordance with the sustainable livelihood approach from the natural science perspective.
3. Reflecting the vulnerability context in light of the sustainable livelihood approach from a social scientific perspective.
4. Presenting results from field research on the relationship between vulnerabilities and capabilities.
5. Deliberating upon approaches that promise to incorporate the capabilities perspective more deeply into applied methodologies.
6. Presenting results from field research that focuses on those who could be called environmental refugees in a more narrow sense.
7. Analyzing the political dimension of the acquired findings and insights.

Full conference programme, including list of invited speakers, available online from www.esf.org/conferences/10328

ESF contact for further information: Alessandra Piccolotto - apiccolotto@esf.org

Closing date for applications: 15 August 2010.