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An ill wind? Climate change, migration, and health
Celia McMichael1, Jon Barnett, Anthony J McMichael
1School of Social Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. c.mcmichael@latrobe.edu.au
Environmental Health Perspectives
|January 24, 2012
Summary
Climate change will increase population movement, impacting health. While forced displacement poses risks, adaptive migration can minimize health issues and even bring benefits.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Climate Change Adaptation
- Population Dynamics
Background:
- Climate change is projected to significantly increase global population movement.
- Existing research has focused on security risks, with limited attention to health consequences of climate-driven migration.
- Understanding the health impacts on mobile populations is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of climate change health impacts in driving population movement.
- To examine health implications of climate-induced displacement, resettlement, and adaptive migration.
- To assess health risks associated with climate-related population mobility.
Main Methods:
- This review employs a risk assessment approach.
- Utilizes existing research on the health of refugees, migrants, and resettled populations as analogs.
- Considers potential modulation of health risks by climate change factors.
Main Results:
- Climate change-related migration is likely to lead to adverse health outcomes for both displaced and host populations, especially during forced displacement.
- Adaptive migration strategies can minimize health risks and potentially lead to health improvements.
- Policy interventions are vital for managing health outcomes and facilitating positive adaptation.
Conclusions:
- Climate change necessitates proactive strategies to address population mobility and its health consequences.
- Adaptive migration, supported by policy, can mitigate health risks and foster well-being.
- The scale of climate-induced relocation highlights the profound impact of human-induced climate change.
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