The GMF Immigration and Integration Program launched an annual, large-scale grantmaking initiative, the Transatlantic Study Teams. Its objective is to link the transatlantic debate on international migration flows with its consequences for sending and receiving regions. Through compiling existing data, policy analysis, and dialogue with policymakers, selected study teams gather facts, convene leading opinion leaders on both sides of the Atlantic, promote open dialogue, and help to advance the policy debate. Study teams are chosen by a competitive selection process, based on the overall quality of their proposal, its policy relevance, institutional strength, sustainability, and potential for synergies.

The Transatlantic Study Team 2009/2010 is investigating the impact of climate change on migration patterns. Environmental deterioration, including natural disasters, rising sea level, and drought problems in agricultural production, could cause millions of people to leave their homes in the coming decades. The debate is currently left off of legislative agendas due to the lack of knowledge about the relationship between climate change and its links to migration. GMF’s study team aims to fill in this knowledge gap and bring the topic to the attention of policymakers and other stakeholders. The team consists of members from three U.S.-based institutions (Georgetown University, University of California at Davis, University of San Francisco), three European based institutions (Bonn International Center for Conversion, Adelphi Research, Overseas Development Institute), and two international institutions (United Nations University, International Organization for Migration). In addition to these core members, the team will include policymakers and practitioners with relevant experience to be selected in the coming months.

Activities of the study team will fall into four areas: 1) preparation of background documents; 2) study team working meetings with external experts; 3) site visits to affected areas; and 4) policy briefings and summary papers. Dissemination and dialogue with relevant stakeholders in the policy community will begin early on by feeding preliminary results into geographically and thematically related events. A final report, providing a review of findings and recommendations, will be published upon completion.