Climate change and migration: a call for a continental-level research agenda

Abstract

Climate change is manifested through increased rates of droughts, heat waves, and storms that raise global temperatures and eventually affect populations. These are accompanied by increased migration, reduced productivity in agriculture, water shortages, and losses in fishing yield that spur people to look for better economic opportunities. The present study discusses some identified trends in environmental variation, their influencing factors of migrations, and emerging policy implications through secondary analyses based on academic journals, government papers, and other sources. Sea-level rise, desertification, and the slow processes and sudden flooding and storm surges are discussed therein. The results indicate clear trends, gaps, and priorities for further research in comprehensive data collection, interdisciplinary methods, and collaborative frameworks. The present study attempts to contribute to enabling policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to deal more effectively with the intractable problems posed by climate-induced migration by providing a comprehensive overview of existing knowledge and suggesting priority research areas.