0.1639
900 319 0030
x

Internal Climate Migration

iasparliament Logo
April 17, 2018

What is the issue?

  • There is presently an increased internal migration across the world due to political and economic instability.
  • Beyond this, the internal migration due to climate change is potential of getting to be a major concern for nations.

What is the looming danger?

  • Some of the slow onset climate events would be droughts, effects from sea level rise and water shortages.
  • These may certainly drive many more to leave their homes and move to safer places.
  • Such migration may be a choice in the initial stages.
  • However, as the stress becomes more severe, the decision to move may be forced.
  • E.g. people are compelled to leave their island nations in the Pacific and Indian Oceans with gradual rise in sea levels
  • These climate exiles are an ongoing process.
  • Notably, it would likely increase out-migration over time.

Which regions are vulnerable?

  • A recent report by the World Bank on internal climate migration highlights the possible migration reality.
  • In Latin America, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa over 140 million people would be forced to move within borders by 2050.
  • This would be as a result of slow onset climate events alone.
  • In the worst-case scenario, about 40 million of these migrants would be in South Asia.
  • This is the most populous of the regions studied, with a number of climate change effects anticipated.

How would South-Asia be affected?

  • South Asia is characterised by rain-fed farmland in large parts of the region.
  • Variability in the monsoons and warmer temperatures is sure to lead to crop failures.
  • This will lead to migration from the Gangetic plains and from the rice-growing northeast of Bangladesh and the inundated coasts.
  • The numbers on forced internal migration in South Asia could increase six-fold between 2020 and 2050.
  • This will continue to rise beyond 2050 without appropriate climate action.
  • But even with inclusive development and climate-friendly scenarios, tens of millions would still be forced to migrate.
  • This normally makes people migrate to big cities.
  • However, those along the coast such as Mumbai, Chennai, Chittagong and Dhaka will themselves be vulnerable.
  • Storm surges and other effects from sea level rise make these coastal cities unfavourable.

What are the concerns?

  • The poor would be the worst affected by these slow onset events.
  • Most of them would migrate out of rural areas to nearby urban settlements such as cities and the peri-urban surroundings.
  • Such “hotspots” of in and out migration would be stressed for natural resources, public services and livelihoods.
  • In India, the areas between Chennai and Bengaluru could be the potential spots.
  • In India, there are already signs of unplanned and frontier-led growth in peri-urban areas.
  • Planning that ignores the ecosystem services provided by local natural resources generates further problems for the vulnerable.
  • The implications of internal migrations will significantly affect development in these areas and the lives of vulnerable people.

What should be done?

  • Policy - Understanding migration patterns, getting socioeconomic data on migration and appropriate planning are essential.
  • Current climate modelling methods are not accurate at high resolutions for local decision-making.
  • Policies to reduce GHG emissions are of utmost urgency.
  • Cities - The peri-urban areas, expected to be hotspots, already have many problems.
  • These include water shortage, waste management, nutritional deficiency, limited services and poor infrastructure.
  • Thus, integrating internal migration with ongoing development planning is vital.
  • Ecosystem - Ecosystems, part of the natural resources in peri-urban areas, ought to be protected as “special ecological zones”.
  • This is crucial to ensure that as urban settlements expand, they don’t spoil the ecosystem services.
  • Social - Ignoring issues of social justice and equity in adaptation can lead to serious governance failure.
  • Skill building, job training and education and job opportunities for locals and migrants thus have to become a focal point.
  • Rights for those who are forced to migrate would be fundamental in these preparations.

 

Source: The Hindu

Login or Register to Post Comments
There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to review.

ARCHIVES

MONTH/YEARWISE ARCHIVES

Free UPSC Interview Guidance Programme