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Climate Change Fuels Migration Between Mexico and the US
Extreme weather drives migration between Mexico and the US, as climate change intensifies droughts and other hardships, pushing people to cross the border and making return difficult.
Spanish
United States
Climate ChangeLatin AmericaEnvironmentPolicyMigrationClimateRefugees And MigrationSocial Impact
Proceedings Of The National Academy Of SciencesUniversity Of PrincetonUniversity Of DukeUniversity Of CaliforniaIrvineUnited Nations
Filiz GaripKerilyn SchewelMichael MéndezHélène BenvenisteDonald Trump
- What are the global projections regarding climate change-induced displacement?
- Climate change is exacerbating extreme weather events globally, including longer and drier droughts, more deadly heat, and intensified storms. In Mexico, these events threaten livelihoods and drive migration, with projections suggesting 143 million people worldwide may be displaced due to climate change in the next 30 years.
- How is extreme weather impacting migration between Mexico and the United States?
- A new study shows that extreme weather is contributing to undocumented migration and return between Mexico and the US. People from agricultural areas in Mexico are more likely to cross the border illegally after droughts and less likely to return when extreme weather continues.
- What recommendations do experts suggest regarding migration and climate resilience?
- Experts emphasize the need for global collaboration on migration and climate resilience, arguing that the focus should not only be on border security but also on addressing the reasons for migration and the demand for immigrant labor in countries like the US. Increased border enforcement makes returning home difficult for undocumented migrants.
- What methodology did researchers use to study the link between climate and migration?
- The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, analyzed meteorological data and survey responses from 1992-2018 focusing on individuals who crossed the border without documentation. Researchers correlated migration decisions with temperature and rainfall changes in Mexican communities.
- What social and economic factors influence migration decisions in addition to climate change?
- The study highlights how extreme weather disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, with those in already economically disadvantaged areas experiencing the highest rates of migration. Social and economic factors also play a significant role, with those who are better off or have existing migration networks more likely to move.