Climate change could cause 216 mn to migrate: World Bank

What is the news? 

As per the report of the World Bank, climate change could push more than 200 million people to leave their homes by 2050 and create migration hot spots unless urgent action is taken to reduce global emissions and bridge the development gap.

Climate change is a powerful driver of internal migration because of its impacts on people’s livelihoods and loss of livability in highly exposed locations.

The World Bank’s updated Groundswell report was released September 13, 2021.

What are the findings of the report? 

As per the report:

Climate migration: Impacts of slow-onset climate change, such as water scarcity, decreasing crop productivity and rising sea levels, could lead to millions of “climate migrants” by 2050 in six world regions. Those regions are Latin America; North Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Eastern Europe and Central Asia; South Asia; and East Asia and the Pacific. 

Under the most climate-friendly scenario, with a low level of emissions and sustainable development, the world could still see 44 million people forced to leave their homes.

Sub-Saharan Africa to be worst hit: In the worst-case scenario, Sub-Saharan Africa — the most vulnerable region due to desertification, fragile coastlines and the population’s dependence on agriculture — would see the most migrants.

In South Asia, Bangladesh is particularly affected by flooding and crop failures, accounting for almost half of the predicted climate migrants.   

Why is the report significant?

The report is a stark reminder of the human toll of climate change, particularly on those who are contributing the least to its causes, i.e. the world’s poorest.

It also clearly lays out a path for countries to address some of the key factors that are causing climate-driven migration.

Source: This post is based on the articles “Climate change could cause 216 mn to migrate: World Bank” published in The Hindu on 14th September 2021 and;

“Climate change can force 216 million people to migrate within their own countries by 2050” published on the Down to Earth on 13th September 2021.