ABSTRACT
The chapter attempts to understand the causes and effects of climate change and climate-induced migration in Myanmar. It argues that the fluctuations in Myanmar’s natural ecosystems are laced with the fragile state of affairs and weak governance, which exacerbate the situational crises. By studying the nature of climate change in the agricultural sector, the central and coastal regions in Myanmar, the chapter discusses the impact of these variations in people’s lives. One of the methods adopted to negotiate with the changes is migration to safer regions. People mostly migrate from rural to urban areas. It leads to disproportionate urbanisation, disturbing Myanmar’s ecological balance. While those who possess resources and social capital somehow manage to assimilate, the vulnerabilities of marginalised sections come to the forefront as they are mainly employed in the informal sectors. Following this, the chapter probes into the various strategies taken by the Myanmar government to harness community resilience against climate change. By using Myanmar as a point of reference, the chapter argues that it is necessary to legally acknowledge the presence of climate-related migrants. The chapter foregrounds that the introduction of an adequate legal framework will bring about innovative strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
