️Why Climate Mobility & Migration?
People across the U.S. are on the move as a result of climate change. Over the past three years, more than 15 million people in the United States have been displaced by climate disasters — more than six times those displaced by the Dust Bowl. Many more moved themselves proactively to try to reduce their climate risk. As climate disasters increase in their scope and frequency in the years to come, these trends are set to accelerate dramatically.
As a result, more and more localities – be they places that anticipate receiving significant numbers of “climate migrants,” or places that want to be prepared for the temporary displacement of thousands of residents due to climate disasters – are realizing they need to incorporate “climate mobility planning” into their broader planning efforts.
Climate mobility is no longer a future consideration. It’s a present operational challenge — and it requires a planning response. This topic is moving fast up local government agendas — and the cities that build planning capacity now will be better positioned to respond, compete for funding, and protect their residents.
Spots are limited– please submit your interest here and we’ll follow up when registration opens (no commitment required).
️What Participants Can Expect
This 5-month cohort (Oct 2026–Feb 2027) is designed for local government staff who are ready to move from awareness to action on climate mobility. Working alongside a small peer group of cities facing similar pressures, participants will translate that understanding into concrete planning progress.
- For those who participated in ICLEI’s 2025 Climate Mobility Cohort: this will be an opportunity to move this work forward in your community by working in tandem with a group of peers and experts from across the country.
- For those who missed ICLEI’s 2025 Climate Mobility Cohort: A catch-up session in September, combined with materials you will be asked to review,will get you up to speed before the cohort launches.
Over the course of the cohort, each city team will develop a substantive deliverable tailored to their community’s most pressing needs — options include:
- Plan Integration — embed climate mobility into an existing or in-development plan (for example, a resilience plan or a vulnerability assessment)
- Standalone Plan — launch a dedicated climate mobility planning process
- Community Engagement — design a strategy for bringing residents into this work
- Interagency Coordination — align departments and partners around a shared framework
- Funding Proposal — build the case and secure resources to move forward
- Bring Your Own Idea — have something else in mind? Let’s talk.
Facilitated peer exchange, expert input, and structured work sessions will support each team in producing something usable, not just a document. Cities that are ready to move beyond orientation and start building the infrastructure for durable climate mobility planning are encouraged to apply.
ICLEI will provide participants with:
- 4 live, 60-90 minute web-based sessions over the course of 5 months.
- Mix of joint sessions and smaller breakout sessions
- Peer exchange and learning, including climate mobility preparation best practices from relevant experts and 2025 cohort members
- Access to relevant templates, tools, and case studies from examples across the U.S.
- Individualized assistance during dedicated technical support “virtual office hours” in December. Additional calls may be scheduled upon request and pending availability.
Open To:
- Cities
- Counties
- Regional Affiliates
- Max # participants: 15
Why Join the Climate Mobility Cohort
✔️Small cohort, real relationships. You’ll work alongside a select group of practitioners facing the same pressures — sharing what’s working, borrowing what isn’t, and building connections that outlast the program.
✔️Most trainings end with a certificate. This one ends with a work product you can actually use — a planning document, engagement strategy, or funding proposal tailored to your community’s specific situation.
✔️New to climate mobility? There’s an onramp. As is mentioned above, the dedicated catch-up session and a review of relevant materials means you don’t need to have participated in the 2025 cohort to hit the ground running in October.
Next Steps
Let us know you’re interested and we’ll send you the registration form when it opens.
Questions?
- David Lubell, Senior Climate Mobility Fellow, ICLEI USA: david.lubell@iclei.org
- Marisa Kellogg, Senior Program Officer, ICLEI USA: marisa.kellogg@iclei.org
