The Role of Climate Change in Driving Mobility: A Perspective of Rural Residents

Although the impact of climate change on human mobility is well known, still less is known about its influence on migration choices in rural Europe. This study examines how individual views and mobility choices take into account climate change factors in a rural Southern Italian municipality. Grounded in 21 semi-structured interviews, our results suggest a paradox: despite widespread awareness of climate change and its effects, it is not yet regarded as an established cause of migration. Mobility appears as a last-resort option rather than a proactive adaptive action. By emphasizing the temporal conflict between environmental perception and migratory behavior in rural Europe, this study adds to discussions on climate-induced mobility in rural Europe.