Abstract
This research examines climate change as a driver of both displacement and immobility, emphasizing how gendered power structures shape the ability to move - or remain - under worsening environmental conditions. While climate displacement cannot be ignored, this study highlights climate immobility, a phenomenon that affects those who are unable or unwilling to leave their homes despite increasing climate risks. In Nepal, male migration due to economic hardship has left women at the forefront of climate adaptation, shouldering increasing domestic, agricultural and caregiving burdens (NAPA, 2010). However, their immobility is not always voluntary - patriarchal or religious norms, limited land ownership, financial exclusion, and lack of decision-making power limit their options. Through a case study of the Sangrumba community in eastern Nepal, this research illustrates how climate change exacerbates existing gender inequalities, forcing women into precarious, invisible labor while overlooking their adaptive capacities. By adopting a gendered lens, this research challenges the notion of universal human rights by asking whether climate adaptation truly ensures dignity for all or simply reinforces preexisting social vulnerabilities. Understanding who bears the costs of immobility is essential to developing just and inclusive climate policies that recognize the right to remain on one's land with dignity. In Nepal, advancing this right is not only a matter of climate justice, but also a step toward strengthening women's rights -ensuring they have the resources, recognition, and agency to adapt on their own terms.