Environmental Migration in Latin America
Year: 2022
Type: book-chapter
Abstract: This chapter reviews prior empirical research on the climatic and environmental influences of human migration in Latin America. Through illustrative case studies, we focus on the prevailing sources of environmental and related stress -and, thus, scholarship- across four different sub-regions: Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America. In Mexico, we cover both internal and international migration following climatic variability mostly associated with drought. For Central America, our review focuses on research documenting migration following natural disasters, and land-use change as a result of migrant remittances. Next, we review literature from Caribbean nations, examining what is known about migration following rapid-onset climate events such as hurricanes and earthquakes. We conclude our review in South America, drawing on past research to highlight the associations between migration and environmental conditions and climatic variability, as well as on migration related to broader land use changes. Upon reviewing environment-migration linkages in each sub-region, we reflect on gaps in the literature and goals for future research.
Authors: Daniel H. Simon, Fernando Riosmena
Institution: University of Colorado Boulder
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Climate action
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4210938079