Title: Environmental change and migration in Sub-Saharan Africa

Authors: Ulrike Grote, Koko Warner

Addresses: Institute for Environmental Economics and World Trade, Leibniz University of Hannover, Konigsworther Platz 1, 30167 Hannover, Germany. ' United Nations University Institute of Environmental and Human Change (UNU-EHS), UN Campus, Hermann-Ehlers-Strasse 10, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Abstract: Environmental changes are especially pronounced in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Land degradation is nowadays a major concern for 32 countries in Africa, and over 300 million people in SSA face water scarcity (UNEP, 2008). To what extent are environmental factors likely to trigger migration in SSA? To shed some light on the question, this paper provides the latest figures and information. The evidence from different branches of the literature – environmental sciences, migration research as well as development economics – is analysed. A focus on the four countries: Ghana, Mozambique, Niger, and Senegal, offers more specific perspectives from different regions in SSA.

Keywords: SSA; Sub-Saharan Africa; migration; environmental degradation; natural disasters; vulnerability; environmental change; water scarcity; Ghana; Mozambique; Niger; Senegal.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGW.2010.032193

International Journal of Global Warming, 2010 Vol.2 No.1, pp.17 - 47

Received: 25 Sep 2009
Accepted: 25 Sep 2009
Published online: 15 Mar 2010 *

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