The Water-Migration Nexus: An Analysis of Causalities and Response Mechanisms with a Focus on the Global South

Abstract

Global migration, influenced by environmental and climate crises, has seen a steep rise in the past three decades. Socio-economic and climatic vulnerability and socio-political volatilities in the developing regions and emerging economies of/in the Global South closely connect with the human migration flows worldwide. Interlinkages between water and climate crisis and human migration trends and patterns are complex and multidimensional and call priority planning and action. For instance, migration has not received formal status as a coping strategy in water security planning or climate change adaptation programs and policies. Also, regional and national actors and agencies, global institutions, do properly acknowledged `water' and `climate' crisis as a push factor for human displacement. As such crises intensify, the need for a better understanding of the complex set of drivers and dynamics that influence decisions to migrate is crucial, especially for the Global South.