How are climate change and environmental degradation affecting human migration across borders and within countries? We explore with top experts in this Migration Policy Institute podcast.
Episodes
Thursday Apr 23, 2026
Thursday Apr 23, 2026
Climate change is making home insurance more expensive and less available, as the multibillion-dollar losses caused by hurricanes, wildfires, and other disasters increase in scale. Rising insurance premiums can push some people to relocate or force others to either pay more money to remain in their home or go without insurance and risk catastrophe if disaster strikes. Residents, insurance companies, and policymakers in high-income countries are beginning to reckon with these issues and are working to find a way to adequately offset risk without charging exorbitant prices. This episode features Talley Burley, who analyzes climate risk and insurance at the Environmental Defense Fund.
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Chapters
02:17 How Climate Change Is Raising Insurance Costs
06:04 Hazards Driving Insurability Concerns
07:38 Insurance Costs as a Driver of Migration
09:49 Climate Entrapment and Equity Issues
15:13 Policy Solutions: Adaptation, Building Codes and Wraparound Services
18:52 The National Flood Insurance Program: Origins and Trade-offs
26:00 Hurricane Sandy: Lessons in Recovery and Relocation