Rethinking environmental non-migration and immobility: conceptual distinctions and considerations

Discourses on environmental challenges have increasingly focused on the relationship between environmental changes and human migration, highlighting two distinct concepts: immobility and environmental non-migration (ENM). Immobility is the inability or unwillingness to relocate despite environmental risks, often due to socio-economic constraints. In contrast, ENM reflects a deliberate choice to remain in place, emphasizing resilience and proactive adaptation. This shift from forced migration to staying reveals communities’ adaptive strategies to thrive despite ecological changes. Distinguishing between these concepts is crucial for policymakers and researchers to develop more tailored responses to environmental challenges. This chapter explores these critical distinctions, tracing their theoretical foundations and real-world implications. By focusing on agency/constraint and voluntary/involuntary action, the chapter offers insights into the complex dynamics of staying behavior through a bibliometric review. It recognizes the distinctions, clarifying scientific debates about the importance of effective interventions to build resilient and sustainable communities.