Climate Conference
Climate Change, Environmental Hazards and Population Dynamics
Organizer: Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR), International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP) Scientific Panel on Population Dynamics under Global Conflict and Climate Change
Location: Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR, November 11–12, 2025
Scope
Environmental hazards and climate change profoundly disrupt population structures, livelihoods, health, human capital and mobility patterns. Importantly, existing social inequalities and ongoing population trends such as the aging of the population can exacerbate the risks posed by environmental hazards. Recent methodological innovations and novel data sources opened a deeper understanding on how environmental hazards are affecting human welfare. However, several open questions remain. For instance, on the impact of climate change and environmental hazards on social inequalities or on how the sustainable transition could provide broad societal benefits. Overall, understanding the population consequences of environmental hazards, climate change and the sustainable transition requires robust theoretical frameworks, innovative methodological approaches, and benefits greatly from multidisciplinary collaborations and novel statistical methods.
This two-day symposium invites scholars across disciplines,i ncluding sociology, demography, public health, political science, statistics, computer science, and economics, to submit original research examining the links between environmental hazards, climate change, sustainability and outcomes such as social inequalities, mortality, migration, fertility, human capital, and health. By fostering dialogue among global experts, this event symposium aims to advance research and provide interdisciplinary insights on these topics.
We invite contributions that address topics including (but not limited to):
- Health, sociological and demographic impacts of environmental hazards
- Sustainability and social inequalities
- Climate and environmental inequalities
- Short-term impacts and long-term population consequences
- Methodological innovations for studying populations and climate change
- Environmental migration, mobility and their implication
Submission Guidelines
Please use the submission website to submit extended abstracts (2–4 pages) and a short abstract (250 words) by May 15th, 2025 (23:59 CET). Include the paper title, author(s) name(s), affiliation(s), and the contact information of the presenting author. Selected papers will be invited for an oral or poster presentation at the conference.
There are no fees to attend, but participants are expected to cover their travel costs and accommodations. Financial support may be available for presenting students or early career scientists with high-quality submissions and no funding available. Please indicate your request for funding on the submission website.
For inquiries and further information, please contact climate_mpidr_2025@demogr.mpg.de.
Important Dates
- Call for Papers Opens: February 28th, 2025
- Submission Deadline: May 15th, 2025 (23:59 CET)
- Notification of Paper Acceptance: Mid-June 2025
- Symposium Dates: November 11–12, 2025
Organizing Committee
The organizing committee includes the following individuals from the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research: Risto Conte Keivabu, Ebru Sanlitürk, Daniela Perrotta, Emilio Zagheni and Raya Muttarak from the University of Bologna and the IUSSP Scientific Panel on Population Dynamics under Global Conflict and Climate Change.