Migration behaviour of the population of the inland mountainous regions of Eurasia in the context of climate change

Mountain ecosystems and glacial zones around the world are most sensitive to climate change, transforming the natural environment, social and economic life of the territories and changing the culture and life of indigenous peoples and other ethnic groups living in the mountains. Changes in temperature regimes, precipitation and water supply, the growth of hazardous hydro-meteorological phenomena have a negative impact on the economic activity and health of residents of mountainous areas and require increased attention to the issues of their adaptation and increased sustainability in the context of climate uncertainty. Migration in the context of climate change, on the one hand, is considered as an active strategy that increases the level of security of the population. And on the other hand, focuses on non-migration as a forced strategy and the result of free choice. Mountainous territories of South-West Siberia are in the center of scientific attention due to changes in ice cover and degradation of permafrost, complex migration situation, usually analysed in the light of factors of socio-economic development. The article presents the results of sociological expeditions in three regions located within the Altai mountain country (Altai Krai, Altai Republic, Tyva Republic), aimed at population's assessment of the climate change and adaptation to it. Based on the data of sociological surveys, in-depth interviews and expert assessments, conclusions are made about the main trends and features of the migration situation and migration attitudes of the population in difficult climatic conditions. It is shown that climate change, on the one hand, acts as a factor aggravating socio-economic and social problems, stimulating migration outflow of the population. On the other hand, for a large part of the population, they are not a significant reason for changing their place of residence, but are part of a special "mountain" and largely traditional way of life. Voluntary refusal to migrate is formed by a positive perception of the area as having development potential, while forced refusal is seen as a manifestation of maladaptive strategies.