Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on Migration
The Migration and Development Processes Research Group (InMIDE) at the University of Valencia (UV) has conducted an in-depth analysis of how climate change influences human mobility strategies, primarily due to its effects on the environment and living conditions. In numerous instances, migration emerges as an adaptive response to these changing circumstances. The MIGRACLIMA project, spearheaded by Professor Joan Lacomba from the Department of Social Work and Social Services at UV, alongside Professor Alexis Cloquell from the Catholic University of Valencia, has meticulously evaluated migratory shifts occurring in Morocco and Senegal as a result of climate change impacts.
MIGRACLIMA delves into the ramifications of environmental factors such as droughts, water scarcity, flooding, and ecosystem degradation on living conditions. These adverse conditions often lead to both internal and international displacements, as well as instances of forced immobility. For example, in several regions, a lack of water has compelled communities to abandon agriculture and livestock practices, prompting notable population movements.
The Complex Relationship Between Climate and Migration
In other scenarios, the difficulty in accessing water has resulted in the sedentarization of populations that have traditionally relied on mobility, particularly among nomadic groups. Furthermore, the most vulnerable populations have frequently found themselves in situations of forced immobility, exacerbated by poverty and a lack of resources to support potential migration efforts. According to Lacomba and Cloquell, migration is seen as an adaptation strategy; however, in many cases, the scarcity of resources severely limits the possibility of movement. The research extends to various geographical contexts, including studies in the Sahel and Andean regions, illustrating that the interplay between climate change and human mobility is a global phenomenon, albeit manifesting differently across diverse territories with varying social, economic, and political conditions.
The research also emphasizes gender inequalities and the role of public policies and international cooperation in addressing these challenges. It highlights the critical lack of specific legal protections for individuals affected by climate-related mobility, marking it as a significant contemporary challenge on the international stage. Researchers warn that "the challenges arising from the intersection of climate change and human mobility underline the urgent need to bolster international cooperation and public policies in response to the escalating effects of the climate crisis."
This investigation, along with other national and international studies, is compiled in the book "Climate Change and Migration: Its Impact and Implications for Development," edited by Professors Joan Lacomba (UV) and Alexis Cloquell (Catholic University of Valencia) and published by Tirant lo Blanch. The aim of this research is to enhance the coherence between development cooperation policies, migration, and climate change, integrating a gender perspective throughout.
The project has seen contributions from researchers María Jesús Berlanga, Isabel Royo, María José Barbé, and Isolda Perelló from the Department of Social Work and Social Services at UV. Additional contributors to the publication include Beatriz Felipe, Oriol Puig, Justo Corti, Aly Tandian, Oumoul Khairy Coulibaly, Jorge Enrique Forero, and Yolanda Alfaro.
The InMIDE research group at the University of Valencia (UV) published this book as part of the R&D&I project MIGRACLIMA (PID2021-122559NB-I00), funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation under the 2021 Knowledge Generation call.
As reported by uv.es.
