University of Birjand-Research Group of Drought and Climate Change Journal of Drought and Climate change Research 3092-6076 4 1 2026 05 22 Assessing the Impact of Climate-Induced Migration on the Expansion of Informal Assessing the Impact of Climate-Induced Migration on the Expansion of Informal 159 180 3764 10.22077/jdcr.2025.9971.1167 FA Saleh Ebrahimipour PhD Student in Geography and Urban Planning, Department of Geography, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran. 0009-0007-8400-1922 Katayoon Alizadeh Associate Professor, Department of Geography and Urban Planning, Department of Geography, Faculty of Management and Accounting, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran. Journal Article 2025 08 25 Objective: This study aimed to analyze the impact of climate-induced migration on the expansion of informal settlements (marginalization) in the metropolitan city of Mashhad, Iran.<br /><br />Methods: This mixed-methods (quantitative-qualitative) study was conducted with a statistical population of 384 migrants residing in informal settlements in Mashhad (selected via cluster sampling) and 20 semi-structured interviews with experts. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire (Total Cronbach’s α = 0.84) and interviews, and were analyzed using path analysis, regression, and thematic analysis.<br /><br />Findings: Quantitative findings revealed that climatic pressures (β = 0.59) and spatial inequality (β = 0.44) had a direct and significant impact on marginalization. Furthermore, climate migration indirectly affected this phenomenon through reducing socio-economic resilience (β = -0.32). Qualitative findings identified five main themes: Migration as a Response to Livelihood Crisis, Reproduction of Inequality, Weak Resilience, Policy Vacuum, and An Uncertain Future.<br /><br />Conclusion: The results confirm that climate migration, in the absence of supportive policies, is not only an emergency response but also a factor in the reproduction of poverty and spatial inequality. Managing this phenomenon requires the development of integrated, justice-oriented policies and planning to enhance resilience in both sending and receiving areas. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the impact of climate-induced migration on the expansion of informal settlements (marginalization) in the metropolitan city of Mashhad, Iran.<br /><br />Methods: This mixed-methods (quantitative-qualitative) study was conducted with a statistical population of 384 migrants residing in informal settlements in Mashhad (selected via cluster sampling) and 20 semi-structured interviews with experts. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire (Total Cronbach’s α = 0.84) and interviews, and were analyzed using path analysis, regression, and thematic analysis.<br /><br />Findings: Quantitative findings revealed that climatic pressures (β = 0.59) and spatial inequality (β = 0.44) had a direct and significant impact on marginalization. Furthermore, climate migration indirectly affected this phenomenon through reducing socio-economic resilience (β = -0.32). Qualitative findings identified five main themes: Migration as a Response to Livelihood Crisis, Reproduction of Inequality, Weak Resilience, Policy Vacuum, and An Uncertain Future.<br /><br />Conclusion: The results confirm that climate migration, in the absence of supportive policies, is not only an emergency response but also a factor in the reproduction of poverty and spatial inequality. Managing this phenomenon requires the development of integrated, justice-oriented policies and planning to enhance resilience in both sending and receiving areas. https://jdcr.birjand.ac.ir/article_3764_641d77dd5271fca28764612a028d9c8e.pdf