It is often assumed that migration induced by climate change will be determined by the nature and extent of climate impacts. Yet research shows that migration decisions are also shaped by how local populations perceive climatic changes and habitability at home and at potential destinations. This side-event showed the implications for adaptation by bringing together initial insights from the HABITABLE project (funded by the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme) with insights from IOM, IDMC and pioneers on the ground.