Nomad Century Summary

Migration shapes humanity; it has always been our response to adversity. As climate reshapes the world, embracing migration may be the key to survival.

1: Climate Change Endangers Billions

By 2100, a 4°C temperature rise could make the world unlivable for 3.5 billion people. This shift, driven by rising sea levels, stronger hurricanes, and intensifying heat waves, threatens lives, agriculture, and entire nations. For example, the Pacific island nation of Kiribati has already prepared by buying land in Fiji for its citizens once their homeland is submerged.

These changes are transforming daily life. Farmers in Vietnam now plant rice at night using headlamps to avoid extreme heat. Forest fires—previously rare in cold areas like Canada, Siberia, and Greenland—are becoming common and devastating. Coastal cities like Cardiff face the reality that they may soon be underwater.

These impacts amplify inequality. Poor communities, having fewer resources to escape or adapt, bear the highest burdens of crop failures and disaster displacement. Even in wealthier countries like the US, climate change displaced millions in 2021 alone, with future disasters expected to drive this number even higher.

Examples

• The third of Bangladeshis living on land threatened by rising waters.
• America’s internal climate migrants, comprising half of all displaced citizens in 2021.
• Kiribati's proactive land purchase in Fiji in preparation for its citizens' migration.

2: Our Borders Are a Recent Construct

Migration is not only natural; it’s how humans have thrived for thousands of years. The act of moving to avoid adversity or to seize opportunity has shaped civilizations throughout history. Modern borders, however, restrict this essential activity.

Historically, cities attracting migrants became hubs of trade, science, and art. Many of the world’s current nation-states were formed long before widespread education and communication unified their populations. For instance, when Italy unified, only about 3 percent of its people spoke Italian. Similarly, before World War I, international borders were more fluid.

Today’s border restrictions—rooted in relatively recent nationalism—fuel political resistance against migration. Overcoming this resistance requires reframing migration as a solution, fostering global collaboration, and explaining its benefits in a way that resonates locally.

Examples

• Migrants historically flocking to city-states like Renaissance Venice to trade and innovate.
• Post-unification Italy teaching its citizens Italian to create "Italians" after the state was formed.
• Current nation-states, formed after education and bureaucracy, solidifying national identities.

3: Migrants Boost Host Countries

Host countries gain significantly from migration. Economic data shows that migrants often take jobs locals avoid, freeing residents for more skilled roles while lifting the overall economy. For example, between 1990 and 2007, immigration added $5,100 to the average annual wage in the US.

Historical examples are telling. After expelling Mexican laborers in 1964, California farms saw declines in hand-picked crops like strawberries and lettuce as mechanization failed to bridge the gap. Additionally, migrant communities contribute to culture and commerce, with areas like Chinatown in the US being prime examples of cultural and economic flourishing.

With shrinking populations in developed nations, migration isn’t just helpful—it’s necessary. In Japan, for example, the aging population means adult diapers now outsell those for infants. Like Japan, developed nations will increasingly depend on migrants to keep economies running.

Examples

• Decline in California's crop yields after migrant labor was removed.
• The rise of global tech innovators like Google and Tesla, founded by migrants.
• Japan’s projected drop from 128 million citizens to 53 million by 2100.

4: Origin Countries Can Benefit Too

Migration doesn’t only help host countries; origin countries also benefit when citizens move abroad. Remittances often provide families with money for education, healthcare, and small business ventures—far more efficiently than international aid. For instance, children in Ghanaian families receiving remittances are 54% more likely to finish their school education.

Migrants returning home bring back more than money—they often introduce democratic values and technical skills learned abroad. For example, returnees in Mali have become community leaders encouraging voter participation and civic engagement.

Even perceived problems, like brain drain, can be mitigated with cooperative, planned migration. For example, training Filipino nurses for jobs abroad can uplift both the individuals and their home country’s infrastructure, creating a cycle where knowledge and resources flow freely.

Examples

• Ghanaian families utilizing remittances for education, giving children greater opportunities.
• Democratic improvements seen in Mali communities with returning migrants.
• Strategic training programs for Filipino nurses to develop global healthcare solutions.

5: Managing Migration Strategically

We urgently need organized migration systems. A global framework under the UN could equip migrants with passports granting mobility and employment rights. This would prevent chaos-driven migrations after disasters and ensure people relocate safely to communities where they’re welcomed.

Cities must also plan beyond their capacity. Migrants should have access to efficient housing, education, healthcare, and shared resources to thrive. Building vertical, energy-efficient housing and enhancing infrastructure will accommodate larger populations with less environmental impact.

Addressing local fears of resource strain is essential to make migration widely accepted. Showing how migrants contribute to economies and reducing inequality among existing populations helps build more inclusive societies.

Examples

• UN passports that guarantee safe travel rights for displaced populations.
• Vertical energy-efficient housing as a solution for overcrowding in cities.
• Local resentment diminishing when migrants boost the economy, as in US immigrant-founded industries like tech.

6: Overcoming Wealth Inequality Leads to Acceptance

Economic disparities often fuel resistance to migrants in host communities. When locals see migrants as economic competitors, tensions rise. Closing income and opportunity gaps can prevent these tensions by aligning local and migrant interests.

For instance, policies that ensure migrants contribute to local economies and align with future urban development plans can reduce friction. Education campaigns showing tangible local benefits of migration have also proven effective elsewhere, such as in Europe’s immigrant integration programs.

Building fair distribution systems and transparent quotas among nations ensures shared cooperation. With global collaboration, joint ventures between nations reduce the imbalance often associated with migration.

Examples

• Education initiatives showcasing immigrant contributions to overall growth.
• Equitable housing policies easing local resentment in urban areas.
• Fair quotas among EU nations sharing migration responsibilities effectively.

7: Science Offers New Solutions

Modern science opens opportunities to combat climate issues alongside migration. Deserted regions in the south, left behind by climate migrants, could generate solar energy for the global economy.

Additionally, using techniques like carbon capture and deploying renewable resources—geothermal and clean nuclear energy—could reshape how cities grow. Parts of the world previously deemed uninhabitable, such as thawing areas in Canada and Russia, may provide opportunities for farming, fishing, and industry as climates shift.

Science-based restoration projects, including rebuilding marine biodiversity and reforestation, also strengthen Earth’s capacity to recover, supporting both migrants and locals alike.

Examples

• Solar energy farms in arid, abandoned lands serving northern economies.
• Rising opportunities in thawed landscapes like Greenland offering new industries.
• Global investment in carbon capture aiding both emission reduction and economic growth.

8: Collaboration Beats Competition

Migration is ultimately a global challenge, best solved through cooperation. Instead of competing for resources or workers, nations could implement cross-border collaborations that prioritize shared benefits.

Regional agreements, such as the freedom to work across the EU, serve as a model for global migration frameworks. These systems ensure that economies thrive while individuals integrate into safer, more stable communities. Such collaborations foster global problem-solving rather than creating migration-hostility.

Cohesion also requires international partnerships to anticipate future migration flows rather than reactively addressing catastrophes.

Examples

• Cross-border worker cooperation within the EU that strengthens local economies.
• Agreements ensuring no nation shoulders a disproportionate migration burden.
• Shared management of major migrant influx periods ahead of natural disasters.

9: Migration Paves the Way for a New World

Migration allows humanity to adapt to a planet we’ve increasingly altered. Moving to safer areas presents a chance to build smarter cities, implement cleaner energy technologies, and create societies where humans and nature coexist more harmoniously.

As climate change displaces billions, migration policies will ultimately shape the survival and prosperity of future generations. Countries embracing planned migration will thrive, while those resisting may face stagnation.

By welcoming diversity and new ideas, migration doesn’t just solve the climate crisis—it represents a fresh opportunity for humanity’s renewal.

Examples

• Cities building sustainable housing for newcomers and local populations alike.
• Refugees contributing specialized skills, such as medical workers in Europe.
• Regions revitalized economically after embracing migrant communities.

Takeaways

1. Advocate for policies that make migration safe and organized with global frameworks.
2. Support community-led efforts to integrate migrants and share resources equitably.
3. Invest in renewable energy and sustainable urban design to prepare for future growth.