A free, classroom‑ready resource from the Foreign Policy Association
Climate migration is no longer a distant or hypothetical concern. Around the world—and increasingly in the United States—people are being forced to leave their homes due to wildfires, flooding, rising sea levels, extreme heat, and other climate‑related disruptions. This Great Decisions High School issue helps students understand why climate migration is already happening, how it affects societies at every income level, and what policy choices lie ahead.
Climate Migration – Great Decisions High School (February 2026)
Format: Interactive PDF
Audience: High school students and educators
Cost: Free
Climate migration refers to the movement of people driven by environmental change that makes their homes unsafe or unlivable. While often framed as a future risk or a problem limited to poorer countries, climate‑driven displacement is already affecting communities across the globe—including wealthy and politically stable states.
In this issue, students explore climate migration as a present‑day global challenge shaped by geography, governance, wealth, and political choices. The readings examine why there is no formal legal definition of a “climate refugee,” how this gap complicates international responses, and what happens when millions of people are forced to move without clear protections.
Through real‑world case studies and structured debates, students are invited to consider whether societies should plan for relocation before disasters strike, how governments should respond to displaced populations, and what responsibilities nations have—both to their own citizens and to people crossing borders because of climate impacts.
This interactive PDF includes:
This resource is designed to be flexible and easy to integrate into existing curricula.
Suggested uses:
Relevant courses:
No prior knowledge is required, and the material is written to be accessible while still encouraging critical thinking and evidence‑based discussion.
Climate Migration – Great Decisions High School (February 2026)
Format: Interactive PDF
Audience: High school students and educators
Cost: Free
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