Climate change‐induced migration in the Pacific Region: sudden crisis and long‐term developments1

With so many other social, economic and environmental factors at work establishing linear, causative relationships between anthropogenic climate change and population dynamics it has been difficult to pinpoint the specific human consequences of climate change on respective populations. Qualitative i...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Geographical journal 2009-09, Vol.175 (3), p.171-180
Main Author: LOCKE, JUSTIN T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
analysis
Climate change
Coral reefs
Developing countries
Drought
Environmental economics
Global warming
Health care access
Health services
Industrialized nations
Kiribati
LDCs
Living conditions
migrants
Migration
Population density
Sea level
Socioeconomic factors
Technological change
Tropical diseases
Tuvalu
Weather
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:With so many other social, economic and environmental factors at work establishing linear, causative relationships between anthropogenic climate change and population dynamics it has been difficult to pinpoint the specific human consequences of climate change on respective populations. Qualitative information was examined based on interviewees’ testimonies and personal experience, as well as a descriptive analysis of population records, climate‐change related impacts, and consequences of uneven development in the Republic of Kiribati and Tuvalu, two low‐lying atoll nations in the Pacific region taken as examples to illustrate the issues involved. Strong evidence was found that recent influxes in population movements to urban central islands from rural outer islands experienced in these countries can be attributed to a combination of the adverse impacts of climate change and socioeconomic factors inherit in small island developing states. Moreover, internal migrants cannot be accommodated in their states of origin, putting pressure on local infrastructure and services. This, combined with a recent population boom, has led to a decline in human development indicators and a general livelihood decline.
ISSN:0016-7398
1475-4959
DOI:10.1111/j.1475-4959.2008.00317.x