New CAPAZ Working Paper: the challenge of climate migration
The most recent working paper published by the editorial project of the Colombo-German Institute for Peace – CAPAZ is entitled “Latin America and the Challenge of Climate Migration”. It was written by Elizabeth Ferris.
Elizabeth Ferris (PhD) is a research professor and the Director of Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of International Migration in Washington, DC. She has worked on issues of climate migration and displacement since 2010.
Summary
This working paper begins by discussing the complexities of climate migration, including its multi-causal nature and difficulties in attributing decisions to migrate solely to environmental factors. Current evidence on the impact of climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean is presented, with an emphasis on the differential impact by region of warmer temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and sea level rise. The particular vulnerabilities of specific population groups – including indigenous groups, women, children and people with disabilities – are discussed. Projections of potential climate migration in Latin America and the Caribbean are analyzed, including analysis of those who are unable or unwilling to migrate. The working paper then considers the potential impact of climate change on Colombia, noting the diverse environmental risks facing the country and the lack of published research on climate migration in particular.