Winds of Change

Climate change is expected to have significant impacts on the Pacific Northwest’s communities, economy, and natural systems. Despite these challenges, some have suggested that the Northwest could become home to large numbers of “climate refugees” from other parts of the country and the world.This speculation has led a growing number of public sector professionals to question whether the potential for climate change-driven migration should be included in long-term planning decisions related to transportation, land use, utilities, and other public services. A scarcity of regionally-specific research on this question leaves decision makers and demographers with limited guidance on how to best answer this question, however.