Shelter from the Storm: How Climate Change Is Creating a New Era of Migration

by Julian Hattem

An urgent wake-up call about the coming large-scale human displacement caused by climate change, from one of the world’s leading experts



Mere decades from now, millions of people all over the world will be forced to move because of climate change. Entire islands will disappear into the sea. Once-in-a-century hurricanes will occur on a regular basis, decimating cities and wiping out peoples’ homes. Wildfires fed by prolonged drought will rage through communities. No one will be in countries rich and poor, climate change will usher in a new era of migration.


In Shelter from the Storm noted journalist and migration researcher Julian Hattem tells the story of the massive human displacement that is already being caused by climate change. With hard-hitting journalism from the front lines of the environmental apocalypse, Hattem takes the reader on a journey from the South Pacific to the Indian subcontinent, the Mediterranean, and beyond, offering a shocking glimpse into the human geography wrecked by a warming planet.


Shelter from the Storm also provides rich historical perspective on how climate has impacted migration and a primer on cutting-edge climatological research, creating a multidimensional portrait of this uncertain new age. A work of profound expertise and storytelling, Shelter from the Storm gives a human face to the millions of climate migrants who are leaving their homes—and the millions more who will follow.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published November 11, 2025

About the author

Julian Hattem has been a journalist, writer, and editor focused on politics, government, and migration for more than fifteen years. He has been on staff with the Associated Press, The Hill, and The Yomiuri Shimbun, and has written for outlets including The Washington Post, The Guardian, NPR, and The Atlantic. He has reported from four continents and is currently the editor of Migration Information Source, the online magazine of the Migration Policy Institute, and founder and host of the podcast Changing Climate, Changing Migration. _Shelter from the Storm_ (The New Press) is his first book. He lives in Washington, DC.

Reviews

[Nash Δ. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shelter From the Storm is an timely and thoughtful account of how climate change is already driving a new era of human migration. Traveling from the Pacific Islands to the Middle East, Hattem tells the stories of people and communities forced to leave their homes as rising seas, drought, and environmental collapse reshape their worlds. These personal stories ground the book and give the climate crisis a human face.

What sets this book apart is its balance of human storytelling and rigorous context. Hattem weaves together history, science, and geopolitics to show that while migration due to climate is not new, the scale and urgency are. He challenges the often simplistic or alarmist narratives around climate migrants, instead offering a nuanced view that recognizes both vulnerability and agency.

The scope is ambitious and, at times, the book can feel dense or emotionally heavy. Some readers might wish for more concrete solutions, though Hattem does discuss the need for fairer policies and a more humane international response. Still, these limitations don’t take away from the book’s importance.

This book is an essential read for anyone interested in climate change, global justice, or migration. It’s not just about the future, it’s about what’s already happening, and the choices we face now. Definitely recommended.

[Nikolaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this one in exchange for a review, I definitely learned a thing or two!

I think this book has a lot going for it. It's a timely analysis of current events as they relate to the global and political climate, and how we, as humans, have effectively shaped the world from a habitable place for us to one that is becoming as actively hostile and tumultuous as our intercontinental relations can be. While this is definitely not a light read by any stretch, it's not hopeless either. There is a lot of really great information, however it can definitely feel dense at times. It did take me quite a while to get through this one, both because it's a tough topic and a heavily informative read. It actually reminded me a bit of the book How to Survive a Pandemic by Michael Greger.

In spite of the density and heavy topic, I am glad that I took the time to read it and didn't rush through or quit. Whether read as a primer or to further knowledge, you're sure to gain something from reading it - or even rereading it, to be honest.

Thanks again to NetGalley!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the same vein as "The Great Displacement," coming at the climate crisis from a deeply human and personal way, almost like a future-focused historical reading of what will come to pass and the already existing changes being made to adapt to a dying world, this book continued to add to my personal climate change anxiety. However, I like learning about it because I have no control over it and so this is all I can do.

Thanks for the ARC

[Carole Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shelter from the Storm by Julian Hattem is a powerful and urgent exploration of how climate change is reshaping human migration across the globe. Blending frontline reporting with history and science, Hattem gives a human face to displacement, making clear that climate-driven migration is not a future threat it is already unfolding.