Social remittances and the environment in the context of climate change: What do we know? Where do we go?

Abstract

Recent research has explored how remittance transfers could play a role in the context of the climate crisis. However, while financial remittances and their influence on environment-related issues have been analysed, social remittances have been neglected. This systematic literature review aims to provide a grounded basis for the development of a social remittances and environment field by (1) analysing how social remittances are conceptualized in related empirical studies on environmental change and (2) evaluating environmental effects resulting from social remittances. Fifty-two articles were identified through Scopus and Web of Science databases and coded based on themes developed through content analysis and gathered from existing social remittance literature. Our findings revealed additional social remittance factors and conceptualizations useful for future research, including applying a human im/mobility rather than migration lens and studying remittance temporalities. Moreover, eight main environmental changes linked to social remittances were identified: agricultural practices, biodiversity, land-use change, household lifestyle and behaviours, environmental activism, pollution, responses to climate change, and lack of effects. More research is needed for the continued development of the social remittance-environment field, particularly conducting studies in a broader range of geographical contexts, quantifying evidence of environmental effects, and embedding in climate mobilities research.