The abandoned houses of Old Podampetta on India’s east coast tell the story of a small fishing village that no longer exists. Families once woke up to the sound of the sea and made their living by reading the tides and winds. But years of coastal erosion and relentless cyclones eventually made staying impossible.

Similar stories are playing out across south Asia. Bangladesh and India recorded nearly 8 million people displaced within their borders by rapid-onset climate hazards in 2024 alone. Most were emergency evacuations before or after disasters such as cyclones, with people hoping to return home as soon as it was safe.

But for some communities, returning is no longer possible. Instead, they may undertake what is known as planned relocation: permanent movement away from places where climate change has made living increasingly unsafe. Some relocations are initiated by communities themselves, while others are planned and supported by governments.

Planned relocation may be an alternative to repeatedly being displaced and in some cases being forced to move to overcrowded and precarious urban settlements. But our research in Bangladesh and India shows that a successful relocation only becomes a durable solution when people can rebuild their livelihoods, relationships and sense of belonging.

More than a housing project

For people who previously lacked secure housing, relocation can provide shelter and legal recognition. In Bangladesh, an official address can help people access social security benefits and other government support, and secure loans or skills training. As one person we interviewed in Khulna district in the south-west told us:

Earlier, we were living as tenants. We lived in other people’s houses.........

© The Conversation