The following resources offer a snapshot of current research, guidance and advocacy on climate-related planned relocation and retreat, in Australia and internationally. This is a rapidly growing field and this is not an exhaustive list, but a starting point for those who want to explore the evidence base and emerging practice further.
Australian guidance
Assisted Relocations: A community-centred approach
Published by: Natural Hazards Research Australia and Suncorp
Date published: November 2023
More info
Link to report
Planned Relocation: Protecting our communities
Published by: Rhelm and IAG
Date published: March 2023
More info
Link to report
Resilient Housing Policies: A framework for evaluation
Published by: Natural Hazards Research Australia in partnership with the Queensland Government and the University of Queensland
Date published: January 2025
Link to report
Relocating Australian Communities at Risk: Strategies and actions in time
Published by: ICEDS (Australian National University)
Date published: June 2024
More info
Link to report
Enhancing housing recovery policy and practice for improving community resilience to future disasters
Published by: The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI)
Date published: March 2025
More info
Link to report
Governance Technical Report: A techincal report for the National Climate Risk Assessment
Published by: Australian Climate Service (Australian Government)
Date published: September 2025
Link to report
Relevant academic literature – Australia
Sipe, N., & Vella, K. (2014). Relocating a Flood-Affected Community: Good Planning or Good Politics? Journal of the American Planning Association, 80(4), 400-412. https://doi.org/10.1080/01944363.2014.976586
Nyandega, D., & Williams, L. (2025). Beyond Flood Resilience—Rethinking Typology and Strategies for Flood-Prone Buyback Land in Suburban Brisbane. Sustainability, 17(12), 5565. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17125565
Piggott-McKellar A and Vella K (2023) Lessons learned and policy implications from climate-related planned relocation in Fiji and Australia. Front. Clim. 5:1032547. https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2023.1032547
Piggott-McKellar, A., Bergin, G., & Pearson, J. (2025). How relocation impacts wellbeing over time and across population groups: The case of Grantham, Australia. Climate Risk Management, 100781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2025.100781
Kreller, A.M. Towards an agonistic approach to planned retreat: fear, anger, and hope in the Central Coast, Australia. Reg Environ Change , 26, 7 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-025-02498-3
McNaught, R., Nalau, J., Hales, R., Pittaway, E., Handmer, J., & Renouf, J. (2024). Innovation and deadlock in governing disasters and climate change collaboratively – Lessons from the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 105, 104366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2024.104366
Gini, G., Piggott-McKellar, A., Wiegel, H. et al. Navigating tensions in climate change-related planned relocation. Ambio, 53, 1262–1266 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-024-02035-2
Nyandega, D., & Williams, L. (2025). Beyond Flood Resilience—Rethinking Typology and Strategies for Flood-Prone Buyback Land in Suburban Brisbane. Sustainability, 17(12), 5565. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17125565
Kreller, A. M. (2026). Towards an agonistic approach to planned retreat: Fear, anger, and hope in the Central Coast, Australia. Regional Environmental Change, 26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-025-02498-3
Piggott-McKellar, A., Pearson, J., & McMichael, C. (2025). Life after climate-related planned relocation: A review of well-being outcomes. Climate Policy. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2025.2592262
Ncube, T., & Murray, U. (2026). Rethinking planned relocation as social protection in an era of increasing climate change risks [Working paper]. Researching Internal Displacement. https://researchinginternaldisplacement.org/working-papers/rethinking-planned-relocation-as-social-protection-in-an-era-of-increasing-climate-change-risks/
Global guidance
The Coalition on Dignified Climate Relocation [CDCR] is an global network of frontline community leaders, civil society advocates, researchers, and members of international organizations who are committed to protecting the rights, autonomy, and dignity of people undergoing planned relocation facing the climate crisis.
The coalition complied a preliminary list of resources that may be useful to inform more dignified, rights-respecting and community-centered planned relocation policy and practice, which is updated regularly.
Below are links to the CDCR website which provides resources on relevant topics:
Global Guidance
International principles and tools for governments to develop more rights-respecting climate-related planned relocation policy and practice
National Laws and Policies
Examples of national normative instruments on climate-related planned relocation policy and practice
Funding
Guidance and examples for funders to develop more rights-respecting climate-related planned relocation policy and practice
Site Selection and Assessment Tools
Examples of site selection and assessment tools to inform climate-related planned relocation decision-making
Inclusive Housing Design Support Tools
Examples of inclusive housing design approaches during climate-related planned relocation
Regional Guidance
Region-specific principles and tools for governments to develop more rights-respecting climate-related planned relocation policy and practice
National Policy Implementation / SOPs
Examples of national policy implementation approaches on climate-related planned relocation policy and practice
Community-Developed Relocation Plans
Examples of community-led planning during climate-related planned relocation
Community Protocols for Engagement
Examples of community-led approaches to engagement during climate-related planned relocation
Psychosocial Support Tools
Examples of psychosocial support approaches during climate-related planned relocation
Other global reports:
Pacific guidance on internal planned relocation
Published by: PCCMHS (Pacific Resilience Partnership)
Date published: February 2026
Link to report
Leaving place, restoring home: Enhancing the evidence base on planned relocation cases in the context of hazards, disasters, and climate change
Published by: Platform on Disaster Displacement (PDD) and the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law
Date published: March 2021
Link to report
Relevant academic literature – Global
Lawrence, J., Boston, J., Bell, R., Olufson, S., Kool, R., Hardcastle, M., & Stroombergen, A. (2020). Implementing Pre-Emptive Managed Retreat: Constraints and Novel Insights. Current Climate Change Reports, 6(3), 66-80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40641-020-00161-z
Yarina, L., & Wescoat, J. L. (2023). Spectrums of Relocation: A typological framework for understanding risk-based relocation through space, time and power. Global Environmental Change, 79, 102650. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2023.102650
Wolff, C., Bade, F., & Kraan, C. M. (2026). Insights from managed retreat projects in Europe. Earth’s Future, 14, e2025EF007012. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025EF007012
Calliari, E., Dalla Fontana, M., Vink, H. et al. Planning for just relocations in Europe in times of climate change: a comparative study. Reg Environ Change, 26, 29 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-026-02523-z
Wolff, C., Bade, S., & Kraan, O. (2026). Insights from managed retreat projects in Europe. Earth’s Future, 14. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025EF007012
Ahmed, & Mallick (Eds.). (2026). Handbook on Climate Mobility. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/handbook-on-climate-mobility-9781035329922.html
COPRRRA developed resources and outputs
COPRRRA pulse editions
The COPRRRA Pulse brings together the latest news, research, policy developments and events relevant to planned relocation, retreat, and community resilience in Australia and globally.
COPRRRA session summaries
COPRRRA Sessions Summaries capture the insights, presentations and learnings from each of the thematic online sessions with COPRRRA members.
COPRRRA session summary – April 2026