MIGRATION AND CLIMATE

There are many reasons why people migrate from one place to another including work, business, transport development, tourism and wanting to gain new experiences of other communities, however, in recent years two main reasons have greatly contributed to people migrating, namely war and climate change.

Hundreds of people and livestocks migrate due to impacts of climate change | The Diplomatist (2020)

Let’s put aside wars and conflicts and discuss climate change.

Migration due to climate change has increased significantly and is one of the threat reasons for people to flee their homes around the world, especially in the communities of developing countries, such as Sub Saharan and the South Americas countries, due to the fact that the climate change crisis has greatly affected these countries.

Two women and a girl carrying tubs walking along the road in an area affected by climate change | Zurich Insurance (2022)

Let's take a look at the IPCC report that shows how serious the effects are on these countries, especially in rural areas where most residents depend on agriculture to run their lives.

A recently released IPCC report suggests farmers in warmer and drier conditions in the Sahelian region of Africa have already curtailed their cropping seasons. Yields from rain-fed agriculture are expected to fall as much as 50 percent in some poor African countries.

Fisheries production will likely also decline, according to the report. Rural regions in Latin America are also expected to be affected. In the region’s drier areas, climate change is expected to lead to increases in the saline content of the soil, which reduces crop productivity. As previously productive lands become more arid, Latin America could also see greater desertification.

Women, children and families in efforts to move from homes severely affected by climate change | Global Citizen (2020)

As a result, the possibility of migration of people from the affected areas is very high. Because people do that in order to gain resilience from the challenges caused by climate change such as floods, less rain, drought and famine.

Migration is used as a way to flee and avoid these effects that we see in various countries including Ethiopia, Sudan, Burkina Faso, and other countries in the world.

Migration Policy Org in their article "Is Climate Change a Major Driver of Migration and Displacement?" They have explained that Climate change is not the main reason why people move, but it is increasingly part of the story.

And adding to the data that in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, just 6 percent of migrant-sending households cited climate- and environment-related reasons for emigration, according to a 2021 report from the World Food Program, Migration Policy Institute, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Similarly, in Central Africa, just 5 percent of migrants reported they moved for environmental reasons, according to a Mixed Migration Centre survey published in 2022. However, when asked whether the environment affected their decision to move, 50 percent of Central African respondents agreed.

A camp of refugees displaced due to climate change | United Nations

This shows how Climate change seems to be a threat for people to move not for good reasons but to avoid the consequences that may befall them more in their areas.

Let's look at some of the effects of Climate Migration, such as;

Displacement and loss of livelihoods leading to economic insecurity and social disruption. Also, Increased competition for resources: Climate migration can also lead to increased competition for resources such as water, land, and food in destination areas, which can exacerbate existing conflicts and tensions among communities.

Children in a refugee camp for families affected by climate change | The Environmental Justice Foundation

Climate migration can have significant health impacts on migrants, including increased risk of malnutrition, infectious diseases, and mental health issues due to the stress of displacement and loss of social support networks.

Also, Climate migration can contribute to environmental degradation in destination areas as migrants settle in environmentally sensitive areas or engage in unsustainable resource use practices to meet their basic needs, and it can also have social and cultural impacts on both migrants and host communities, as it can lead to the breakdown of social structures, loss of cultural identity, and tensions between different cultural groups.

A woman and children standing in an area affected by climate change | The Ecologist

What should be done now to face this challenge?

Addressing the root causes of climate change through reducing greenhouse gas emissions and shifting to renewable energy sources can help prevent climate change driving climate change.

Also by implementing adaptation strategies such as building stable infrastructure, encouraging sustainable agricultural practices, and strengthening early warning systems can help communities better cope with the effects of climate change and reduce the need for migration.

An illustration showing the strategies of adaptation and mitigation on climate migration effects | Research Gate Org

Moreover by developing and implementing comprehensive governance policies and systems at the local, national and international levels can help address the challenges of climate migration, including protecting the rights of migrants, providing social support services, and coordinating response efforts.

Also, promoting sustainable development practices, such as investing in green technology, improving access to education and health services, and supporting local livelihoods, can help build resilience in communities vulnerable to climate change and reduce the drivers of climate migration.

An illustration showing cooperation and collaboration among International communities in response to climate change | The Good Men Project

Strengthening international cooperation and collaboration in response to climate change, adaptation to climate change, and migration issues can help address the global nature of the problem and ensure a coordinated response that benefits migrants and host communities.