Graduation Year

2026

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Environmental Analysis

Second Department

Organizational Studies

Reader 1

Dr. Shawnika Perdue-Johnson

Reader 2

Professor Barbara Junisbai

Terms of Use & License Information

Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Abstract

As climate change accelerates internal migration within the United States, the concept of “climate havens” has emerged as a way to identify communities that may become receiving zones for displaced populations. Madison, Wisconsin has increasingly been positioned within academic, policy, and media discourse as a potential climate haven due to its geographic advantages, strong public infrastructure, and proactive climate policy environment. This paper evaluates Madison’s readiness for this role through an equity-centered, participatory planning lens. Drawing on planning documents, climate data, municipal policies, and interdisciplinary scholarship, it argues that Madison’s long-term success as a sustainable and inclusive climate haven depends not only on its physical resilience but on its commitment to participatory governance, social equity, and adaptive planning. The paper identifies key gaps in existing literature around equitable climate migration planning and proposes future directions for research, including longitudinal migration data collection across Great Lakes cities and comparative analysis of community-driven adaptation models. Ultimately, Madison’s emerging strategies offer a critical case study that can inform national debates about just and sustainable climate adaptation in mid-sized U.S. cities.

Download

Share

COinS