Study:
Few climate refugees leave their countries Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, several West African, South East Asian and Central
American
countries may become future international migration hotspots.
08/12/2009 16:00 - The number of people affected by natural
disasters has more than doubled in recent years. However,
fears that millions of poor people will migrate to rich
countries as a result of climate change has been greatly
overstated, a new study from the International Organization
for Migration shows.
The
study, which was released on the second day of the climate
change conference in Copenhagen, estimates that between
25 million and one billion people could be driven from their
homes over the next four decades, but only few of these
"climate refugees" would be able to leave their
countries due to lacking the means and the ability to travel
to wealthier places, Reuters reports.
"In
general, countries expect to manage environmental migration
internally, with the exception of small island states that
in some cases have already led to islands disappearing under
water, forcing international migration," the reports
states.
Potential
future hotspots for international migration are also identified.
These are countries which have high emigration rates, face
enormous socio-economic challenges, and which experience
significant slow-onset climate-related disasters of which
have an impact on issues such as food security. They include
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, most of Central America, several
West African and South East Asian countries, amongst others.
The
study emphasizes that the persistent lack of data on migration
and climate change/environmental degradation is a major
obstacle in having a clearer picture on the issue and in
planning ahead.
Da
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
