Impact News

Written by Ulima Nabila Nadinta (CSWH Research Officer)

On June 6-9, 2024, the RDI Team, comprising Abimanyu (DCR Research Officer) and Ulima Nabila Adinta (CSWH Research Officer) continued the collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and ADBMI to conduct a field visit for migration research purposes in Jerowaru, East Lombok Regency. This effort is a follow-up from the previous activity held in Cilacap and is aimed to understand how slow-onset climate events and socio-economic factors influence human mobility decisions, particularly migration among households living in coastal areas, as Jerowaru is considered the centre of economic agglomeration.

The team conducted detailed questionnaires and focus group discussions (FGDs) with local government officials and community members on June 7 and 8. These discussions revealed a consensus that climate change has been the most significant factor impacting the income of communities and regions over the past five years.

Extreme weather events have increasingly deterred fishermen from sailing, and rising seawater temperatures have negatively affected the marine population, leading to a reduced fish catch. The farming households in Jerowaru also struggle due to these changing conditions, finding it increasingly difficult to sustain their livelihoods.

Faced with these environmental and economic challenges, many residents of Jerowaru village are compelled to seek better job opportunities or become migrant workers in other islands or countries. This migration is often facilitated by both legal and illegal labour recruitment agencies, operating in an increasingly government-regulated economy that sends documented migrants to countries such as Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Taiwan. This migration trend highlights the growing economic crisis in the region.

The findings from this research are expected to contribute to developing strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change and improve the economic stability of the affected communities.

Stay tuned for more updates on our ongoing research and findings!

The post Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Migration: Insights from RDI Team’s Field Visit to Jerowaru, East Lombok appeared first on Resilience Development Initiative.

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