Mapping the Evidence on Food Security Outcomes and Initiatives Among Climate Refugees: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Environmental science
• Public health
• Sociology

Background:

• Climate change exacerbates global food insecurity, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups like migrants and refugees.
• Understanding the complex interplay between climate change, food security, and migration is crucial for effective policy and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review on the nexus between climate change, food security, and migration.
• To identify impacts and responses within affected communities, guided by PRISMA-ScR principles.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search across seven major databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, Public Health, Web of Science, PsycINFO).
• Inclusion criteria applied to 908 records, resulting in nine articles for synthesis.

Main Results:

• Climate stressors (drought, floods, rainfall variability) consistently linked to livelihood disruption and food insecurity, influencing migration decisions.
• Inconsistent definitions and measures of food security outcomes (e.g., crop yields, hunger) limit cross-study comparability.
• Limited evidence on the effectiveness of food security initiatives and post-displacement outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Food insecurity acts as a significant mediator between climate change and human mobility.
• Identified gaps include the need for standardized outcome measures, rigorous evaluation of interventions, and understanding displaced populations' food security at destinations.