Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2025

Using Generative Art to Convey Past and Future Climate Transitions
Published on: March 31, 2023
Prioritizing involuntary immobility in climate policy and disaster planning
Lisa Thalheimer1,2, Fabien Cottier3, Andrew Kruczkiewicz4,5
1International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria. thalheimer@iiasa.ac.at.
Abstract:
Globally, populations are increasingly located in areas at high risk of climate change impacts. Some populations lack the agency to move out of harm's way, leading to involuntary immobility. The climate risks these populations face are insufficiently addressed in climate policy and disaster planning. While policy and planning should be data-informed, the lack of appropriate data should not limit governments and institutions from taking action to reduce the risk of involuntary immobility. Incorporating involuntary immobility within the broader sustainable development goals of climate action and safe, orderly, and regular migration may substantially reduce the risk of involuntary immobility.
Related Concept Videos
Applications of GIS: Disaster Management and Emergency Response
What is Climate?
Global Climate Change
Avoidance Learning and Learned Helplessness
Avoidance learning occurs when an organism learns that a specific behavior can prevent an unpleasant outcome. For example, a student who receives a bad grade may start studying harder to avoid future poor grades. This behavior persists even when the negative outcome is no longer present. Avoidance learning is powerful because it maintains behavior in the absence of the...
Manipulation and Analysis
Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment

