An assessment of Climate Change and Migration Governance in Africa

Abstract

Globally, climate change has been widely identified as a significant driver of migration. Africa’s carbon footprint is less than that of other continents, yet it disproportionately suffers from the effects of climate change. Pre-existing poverty and inefficient governance exacerbate the adverse effects of climate change on the continent. Consequently, significant population movements as a survival strategy have led to a critical migration governance crisis. This article critically examines the interplay between climate change and migration governance in Africa, employing the Environmental Migration Theory and other relevant conceptual frameworks such as the push-pull theory of migration and the livelihoods approach model. Using secondary data from scholarly articles and government reports, the article provides a comprehensive analysis of how climate change influences migration and how the responses of governance structures affect communities across the region. Millions of people, especially those in agriculturally disadvantaged communities, have migrated and are projected to continue migrating due to the effects of climate change. The rate of urbanisation is increasing as climate change effects erode agricultural land. The lack of legislative frameworks that safeguard climate migrants is a significant policy gap. Effective migration policies, coping mechanisms, disaster management and cooperation are crucial measures in mitigating the dual challenges of climate change and migration.