Population Dynamics and Climate Change: New Dimensions

About this Research Topic

Background

The impact of climate change and extreme weather events on people's livelihoods and decisions is now receiving more attention. It is well known that rapid climate change and extreme weather events are increasing in areas known to be highly vulnerable and at risk from climate change. There is a need to examine how climate change and extreme weather events are linked to population dynamics. Furthermore, it needs to be examined how population and climate change policies at national level contribute to changes in fertility trends and intentions, mortality differentials and decisions on migration to seek new opportunities as one of the strategies to adapt to the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events. The linkages between climate change impacts, extreme weather events and food security and policy dynamics are also related to climate change and population policies at national and global levels. Other dynamics may play a role as mediating factors, as socio-economic and cultural factors have also been examined in many studies. The relationship between climate change, extreme weather events, population dynamics and politics is therefore very complex. It is difficult to disentangle the relationship between population dynamics and climate change without taking into account the different political and policy dynamics that vary from country to country. The spatial and temporal variations in politics and policy at the country level are important elements in understanding the dimensions of population dynamics and climate change.

This inaugural Research Topic "Population Dynamics and Climate Change" aims to achieve work that provides new dimensions and a better understanding of the complex relationship between population dynamics and climate change in the context of climate change and population policy at global and national levels. We also seek papers that provide new insights and attempt to unravel the complex mechanism by incorporating different components of demographic dynamics such as fertility and mortality differences and migration. We also call for research on how the different magnitudes of climate change and extreme weather events affect food security, and thus how food security relates to population dynamics and climate change and population policies.

This Collection of papers focuses on the links between climate change and extreme weather events and their impact on food security, as well as the subsequent links to fertility dynamics, mortality differentials and migration. On the other hand, trends and decisions related to fertility, changes in mortality differentials and migration decisions may also influence future climate change and climate change-related extremes. Studies that focus on these linkages, integrating the political dimensions and policies of climate change and population, and that are based on either primary or secondary data and use both quantitative and qualitative methods, are welcome. A detailed and comprehensive review article identifying limitations, gaps and issues for future research is also welcome for this topic. Main types of articles solicited: original research and review articles.

Keywords: Climate change, Extreme Weather Events, Food Security, Fertiltiy Dynamics, Mortality Differentials, Migration Decision

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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