Volume V Special Issue VI December 2025

Name of Author : Dr. Rethikala K.R, Aarathi P.V, Karthika Bhaskar

Title of the paper : Socio environmental factors influencing migration: Climate and economic transformations in Kerala

Abstract: Kerala, a coastal state in southern India, with an area of 38,863 sq. km, a coastline of 580 km and with a tropical monsoon climate, has witnessed increasing climate shocks and economic transitions in recent years. Its economy is traditionally based on agriculture, fisheries, and tourism. This study explores how the climatic events influences economic policy in Kerala and thus both of these parameters act as driving forces behind the migration. The factors like high intensity rainfall, rising sea levels, shifts in monsoon timing, rising temperature and heat waves influence economic shifts and migration in Kerala. Sea surge, Cyclones, coastal erosion has caused fisher families to be uprooted more frequently. Many coastal residents of Kerala have experienced catastrophic natural hazards such as sea surge that has seriously ruined homes and livelihoods. The floods of 2018 in Kerala have also greatly impacted on the daily lives and economy of Kerala, which greatly triggered migration rates. For resent seven years Kerala has affected more severely by flash floods, landslides, intense rainfall, heat waves, cyclones, sea surges and cliff retreats as an impact of global climatic change. The geographical location and geology of Kerala has played an important role in accelerating the vulnerability.

Keywords : Migration, Climatic change, Economy, Cyclones, sea surge, flash floods, Landslide, Coastal erosion, high intensity rain fall

DOI :

Page Number : 217-224