Environmental Migration
Definition
Environmental migration
Environmental migration refers to the movement of people caused by changes in the environment, which can be either sudden or gradual.
- It typically occurs when environmental conditions become unfavorable or uninhabitable due to natural disasters, climate change, or other environmental factors.
- This migration can be internal (moving within the country) or international (cross-border migration).
Reasons for Environmental Migration
Environmental migration happens for a variety of reasons, including:
- Sudden-Onset Events:
- Natural disasters like hurricanes, cyclones, floods, and earthquakes cause immediate displacement when homes and infrastructure are destroyed.
- Slow-Onset Events:
- Climate change impacts, such as sea-level rise, desertification, soil erosion, droughts, and saltwater intrusion, reduce the land's ability to support human populations.
- Over time, people are forced to move as their land becomes unproductive.
- Resource Depletion:
- Loss of resources such as water, arable land, or natural habitats can make life unsustainable in a given area, forcing migration in search of better living conditions.
- Pollution and Environmental Degradation:
- Pollution (air, water, soil) and land degradation can make certain areas uninhabitable.
Example
The spread of desertification or increasing salinity can destroy farming livelihoods, leading people to move.
Case study
Environmental Migration in Tuvalu (Pacific Island)
Overview of Tuvalu
- Tuvalu is a small island nation in the Pacific Ocean, which is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to climate change.
- The country's high vulnerability to sea-level rise makes it an example of a location facing environmental migration.
Environmental Drivers of Migration
- Rising Sea Levels:
- Tuvalu's average elevation is just 3 meters above sea level.
- As sea levels rise due to global warming, coastal areas are becoming increasingly inundated, which leads to loss of land and saltwater contamination of freshwater resources.
- Increasing Frequency of Cyclones:
- The region has seen an increase in the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones.
- These storms have damaged homes, infrastructure, and the agricultural land upon which the local economy depends.
- Saltwater Intrusion:
- Saltwater is contaminating drinking water and agricultural fields, reducing food security and making the environment inhospitable for human habitation.
- Loss of Livelihoods:
- Fishing, which is a primary livelihood for Tuvaluans, is increasingly threatened by changing ocean temperatures and acidification, further contributing to the reasons for migration.
Migration Patterns from Tuvalu
- Internal Migration:
- Many people from Tuvalu are moving to Fiji and other neighboring islands within the Pacific, where they seek better opportunities for employment, food security, and shelter.
- Migration to New Zealand:
- New Zealand has a special immigration policy for Tuvaluans.
- Some Tuvaluans have been able to migrate to New Zealand due to its humanitarian immigration policies, seeking better living conditions as their homeland becomes uninhabitable.
Consequences of Migration
- Cultural Impact:
- Loss of culture and identity as people migrate, leaving behind their traditional way of life and culture tied to their land.
- Social Stress:
- The migration often places stress on both the emigrant communities (as they struggle to adjust to new countries and environments) and the receiving countries (who have to integrate these new populations).
- Political and Legal Issues:
- As the climate refugee situation worsens, international legal frameworks around the recognition of climate refugees are also being debated.
- Countries like New Zealand have set up programs for migration, but there is no comprehensive global legal solution for climate migrants.
