In areas losing residents due to climate change, an aging, poorer population will likely struggle to raise public revenue adequate to their needs and may face marginalization due to declining representation.
In places seeing climate-driven population instability, it will become harder to administer inclusive elections and fiscal pressures may encourage gentrifying redevelopment.
Regions seeing in-migration due to climate change will benefit from new economic and fiscal vitality if they successfully incorporate newcomers.
Without policy change, climate migration will likely worsen economic and racial inequality in America. A comprehensive policy research agenda is necessary to address the fiscal and democratic challenges of climate-driven migration.