The research topic aims at analysing the different socio-economic impacts that climate change might produce on urban and rural context, in particular on the migration flows between these two areas. In fact, the relationship between environment, climate change and migration historically focused on the impact of the CC on basic resources (e.g. water) that in some cases also increase the probability to conflicts between different actors in under-developed or developing countries. However, despite the importance of the issue and the relevance that this phenomenon will have in the next future, there is limited evidence about this topic in developing countries. The effects of Climate Change will impact urban and rural areas in different ways and the capacity to adapt or recovery to this type of slow-burn event will depend on the interrelation between environment and socio-economic characteristics of the affected places. In particular it would be relevant to analyse the impact of climate change in fragile areas such as mountainous regions, where it is possible to argue that there are factors the will push people to leave these areas while other factors might pull people there. Particular focus will be given to the role of PA in addressing this issue through the study of public policies (especially regional policy) and supporting the PA in developing more tailored adaptation strategies that take into consideration the potential migration flows between different urban and rural areas.

The candidate should know basic quantitative analysis and GIS knowledge. Furthermore, the knowledge of Italian would be relevant for the internship

The research team will include dr. Andrea Membretti, senior researcher of University of Eastern Finland; dr. Gianni Tartari as responsible of Associazione Euclipa and Elena Di Bella - Dirigente del la Direzione -Sviluppo montano e rurale della Città metropolitana di Torino, where the student will held his/her internship.