ABSTRACT

Adaptation is an essential part of climate change policy. In areas where impacts are likely to be severe, migration is considered to be an adaptation option. In Bangladesh coastal areas migration due to climate change is contingent on people’s freedom of choice at individual and household level. Following Amartya Sen’s capability approach, we argue that there should be a line drawn between migrations by free choice versus forced migration. Sen’s capability approach focuses on the importance of people’s freedom of choice to act, and the ability to achieve what they consider valuable in their life. In this paper, we use an extensive empirical work engaging 22 focus groups discussions (8–12 individuals in each group) and 14 Key Informants Interviews in South-West Bangladesh to elicit how freedom of choice changes with the economic class and social status of an individual. Using these data we apply Sen’s capability approach to understand the role of the freedom of choice when considering migration as an adaptation option. We argue that the capability approach is essential in revealing a thin border between migration as a (planned) adaptation option and forced migration.

摘要

适应是气候变化政策的重要组成部分。在影响可能很严重的地区，迁移被认为是一种适应选择。在孟加拉国，沿海地区由于气候变化而造成的移民取决于人们在个人和家庭层面的选择自由。遵循阿玛蒂亚·森（Amartya Sen）的能力方法，我们认为在自由选择迁移与强迫迁移之间应该划清界限。森的能力方法侧重于人们选择行动自由的重要性，以及实现人们认为对自己生命有价值的能力的重要性。在本文中，我们使用了广泛的经验工作，参与了22个焦点小组讨论（每组8-12个人）和孟加拉国西南部的14个关键信息访问者，以探讨选择自由如何随个人的经济阶级和社会地位而变化。使用这些数据，我们将Sen的能力方法应用于考虑将迁移视为适应选项时选择自由的作用。我们认为，能力方法对于揭示作为（计划的）适应方案的移民与强迫移民之间的薄弱边界至关重要。