New global migration map shows that human development is the driver, not climate
New Delhi: Global migration patterns are more strongly linked to social and economic factors, not climate change as the public generally believes, according to new research published in the journal Nature Human Behavior. By providing a new, high-resolution dataset on net migration over the past two decades (2000-2019), the study said it made it possible to answer questions that cannot be addressed with coarser data, such as national averages. The study included researchers from Aalto University, Finland, and the University of Bologna, Italy.
The team combined birth and death rates with overall population growth to estimate net migration. The role of socio-economics and climate is integrated through the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Drought Index.
Read also: HDI 2022: More investment in public health is crucial, says Shoko Noda, UNDP Resident Representative in India
High levels of migration or out-migration have been found in regions intermediate in both the HDI and drought, such as the regions of Central America, northeastern Brazil, central Africa, and southeast Asia.
Venla Nieva, a postdoctoral researcher at Aalto University and lead author of the study, said:
It is not the poorest of the poor who are fleeing environmental disasters or environmental changes. Migration is an adaptation method used by people who have the ability to move.
By the same logic, regions with a high HDI were seen as experiencing positive net migration, or internal migration, regardless of their climatic conditions.
For example, the Arabian Peninsula, North America, Australia and the northern Mediterranean regions were net recipients despite their drought, the study said.
Decision makers should pay attention to this. Instead of focusing solely on closing borders and combating migration, we should work to support and empower individuals in economically disadvantaged countries.
Read also:India ranks 132 on the Human Development Index, and its contributions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals are growing
Matti Kumo, associate professor of global water and food issues at Aalto and senior author of the study, said:
This would help reduce the incentives that force people to migrate in search of better opportunities.
The accuracy of the new data set reveals complexities in migration patterns that are hidden when using national data, the researchers said.
Mr. Cuomo stated,
In France and Italy, for example, there are interesting differences between North and South, and in Spain, there is a difference between East and West. There are many patterns that national experts can look at, and of course the underlying causes may vary from country to country.
Unexpected patterns have also emerged in urban-rural migration, dispelling the common belief that urban areas attract people from rural areas, they said.
Mr. Cuomo said
There are a lot of places in Europe for example where the opposite is true.
Read also: Almost the entire world’s population was exposed to global warming from June to September: study
Migration from cities to rural areas has also been observed in parts of Indonesia, Congo, Venezuela and Pakistan.
said Mrs. Neva
In general, immigration is more complex than people think. Our findings contribute to the discussion of where and how migration occurs – it is in fact not a Europe-centric phenomenon, because most migration occurs elsewhere in the world. It doesn’t really match the narrative the public is repeating about climate migration. When you look at the different factors together, the analysis shows that human development factors are more important drivers than climate.
They said the new dataset, which the researchers produced by starting with sub-national death and birth ratios and downsampling them to a 10-kilometre resolution, is publicly available and can be easily explored through an interactive online map.
Read also: The study finds that climate change may reduce India’s credit rating
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol has been working towards making India clean and healthy since 2014 through the Banega Swachh India initiative, run by campaign ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the interconnectedness between humans and the environment, and the interdependence of humans with a focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – leaving no one behind. He stresses the need to pay attention to and be sensitive to the health of everyone in India – especially vulnerable communitiesLGBTQ population,The indigenous people, various tribes of India, and ethnic and linguistic minoritiespersons with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, and sexual and gender minorities. Under the currentCovid-19 pandemicthe need for washing (water,SewageAndhealth) It has been reiterated that washing hands is one way to prevent infection with the Coronavirus and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness about this issue along with focusing on the importance of nutrition and health care for women and children and combatingMalnutritionmental health, self-care, science and health,Adolescent health and gender awareness. Besides people’s health, the campaign recognized the need to also pay attention to ecosystem health. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which not only overexploits available resources, but also generates massive pollution as a result of the use and extraction of those resources. The imbalance has also led to a massive loss of biodiversity, causing one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as “Red symbol of humanity.The campaign will continue to cover issues such asair pollution,Waste management,Plastic ban,Manual scavengingAnd cleanersMenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also continue to fulfill the dream of Swasth Bharat, as the campaign feels that only Swachh or clean India willtoiletsused andOpen Defecation Free (ODF)The status was achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by himPrime Minister Narendra ModiIn 2014, diseases such as diarrhea could be eliminated and the country could become a Healthy India.
