Faith and Climate Migration: Evidence Review

This report presents an evidence review on faith and climate migration, produced through a collaboration between Christian Aid and the Joint Learning Initiative on Faith and Local Communities (JLI).

Climate migration is no longer a future risk but a current reality, affecting millions through both sudden and slow-onset climate events. Yet, the crucial role of faith actors, often the first and only responders providing material, emotional, and spiritual support remains underexplored.

This study combines a comprehensive global literature review with insights from listening dialogues held in South Asia, East Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean. These dialogues brought together faith leaders, researchers, and humanitarian actors to explore how religious beliefs, institutions, and spiritual practices shape communities' experiences of displacement and adaptation.

The report highlights the deep interconnection between faith, resilience, and climate-induced migration, identifying key gaps, emerging questions, and recommendations for policymakers, faith networks, and humanitarian practitioners. It underscores the need to recognise and resource faith actors as critical partners in responding to the human dimensions of the climate crisis.

You can also find a guidance note entitled: The role of faith actors in responding to climate-induced migration