Climate-related Planned Relocation as Domicide: The Multi-dimensional Destruction of Home in the Philippines

Abstract

This study critically examines how climate-related planned relocation constitutes domicide -the destruction of home extending beyond the physical or material sense. We develop a conceptual framework to understand how domicide unfolds gradually through disruptions to material-economic, socio-communal, ecological-geographic, and identity-cultural dimensions, driven by institutional logics prioritising physical safety and economic development while neglecting the relational and place-based characteristics of home. Through a multi-method case study in the Philippines, we foreground how spatial designations and urban restructuring after Typhoon Haiyan rendered coastal settlements uninhabitable and reoriented access to land and livelihoods, illustrating how domicide operates collectively and is enabled by the urgency of disaster response. Comparisons between relocation villages further highlight that participatory mechanisms and tenure security can mitigate some harms. Yet, relocation often produces losses beyond physical displacement, including economic hardship, cultural rupture, and social fragmentation. This study argues that domicide is not merely an unintended consequence but an inherent risk of adaptation policies when they overlook the full spectrum of what constitutes home, emphasising the need to recognise and address these interconnected risks to foster just and meaningful climate futures. By expanding the concept of domicide beyond the physical destruction of homes, this study reveals the subtle yet profound suffering that climate adaptation interventions can cause, urging policymakers to adopt more careful, holistic approaches that preserve the complexity of home while addressing climate vulnerabilities.