Understanding climate-induced migration in West Africa through the social transformation lens

The climate crisis has migration implications, and we need to act inclusively and urgently. Climate change impacts people’s decisions to migrate largely through economic, political, technological, demographic, and sociocultural factors, and their dynamic interlinkages. These complex issues often inf...

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Autores principales: Osei-Amponsah, Charity, Quarmine, William, Okem, Andrew
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Frontiers Media 2023
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175384
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author Osei-Amponsah, Charity
Quarmine, William
Okem, Andrew
author_browse Okem, Andrew
Osei-Amponsah, Charity
Quarmine, William
author_facet Osei-Amponsah, Charity
Quarmine, William
Okem, Andrew
author_sort Osei-Amponsah, Charity
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The climate crisis has migration implications, and we need to act inclusively and urgently. Climate change impacts people’s decisions to migrate largely through economic, political, technological, demographic, and sociocultural factors, and their dynamic interlinkages. These complex issues often influence climate risks and vulnerabilities and complicate effective investment and policy actions on migration. However, there is inadequate documentation on how climate change is linked to migration and social transformation. Based on a traditional literature review and inputs from a consultation dialogue, this paper analyzes climate-induced migration in West Africa using a social transformation lens. The paper conceptualizes the climate-induced migrant as an agent of adaptation and describes the complexities of climate vulnerabilities, and its intersection with social transformation in migration decisions. A social transformation conceptual framework is proposed to identify the complexities of climate-induced migration and ensure inclusive strategies are planned, implemented, and sustained. The paper discusses the need for transdisciplinary research approaches to capture various intersections of transforming socioeconomic and environmental vulnerabilities across different countries and migratory landscapes. The paper also highlights the critical concern in the region regarding the “trapped population.” It suggests that a social transformation lens is required to unravel the dynamics around vulnerable people unable to migrate because they do not have the resources to migrate or are constrained by cultural issues.
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spelling CGSpace1753842025-12-08T10:29:22Z Understanding climate-induced migration in West Africa through the social transformation lens Osei-Amponsah, Charity Quarmine, William Okem, Andrew migration climate change adaptation social change policies vulnerability The climate crisis has migration implications, and we need to act inclusively and urgently. Climate change impacts people’s decisions to migrate largely through economic, political, technological, demographic, and sociocultural factors, and their dynamic interlinkages. These complex issues often influence climate risks and vulnerabilities and complicate effective investment and policy actions on migration. However, there is inadequate documentation on how climate change is linked to migration and social transformation. Based on a traditional literature review and inputs from a consultation dialogue, this paper analyzes climate-induced migration in West Africa using a social transformation lens. The paper conceptualizes the climate-induced migrant as an agent of adaptation and describes the complexities of climate vulnerabilities, and its intersection with social transformation in migration decisions. A social transformation conceptual framework is proposed to identify the complexities of climate-induced migration and ensure inclusive strategies are planned, implemented, and sustained. The paper discusses the need for transdisciplinary research approaches to capture various intersections of transforming socioeconomic and environmental vulnerabilities across different countries and migratory landscapes. The paper also highlights the critical concern in the region regarding the “trapped population.” It suggests that a social transformation lens is required to unravel the dynamics around vulnerable people unable to migrate because they do not have the resources to migrate or are constrained by cultural issues. 2023-12 2025-06-30T11:50:56Z 2025-06-30T11:50:56Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175384 en Open Access Frontiers Media Osei-Amponsah, Charity; Quarmine, William; Okem, Andrew. 2023. Understanding climate-induced migration in West Africa through the social transformation lens. Frontiers in Sociology, 8:1173395. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2023.1173395
spellingShingle migration
climate change adaptation
social change
policies
vulnerability
Osei-Amponsah, Charity
Quarmine, William
Okem, Andrew
Understanding climate-induced migration in West Africa through the social transformation lens
title Understanding climate-induced migration in West Africa through the social transformation lens
title_full Understanding climate-induced migration in West Africa through the social transformation lens
title_fullStr Understanding climate-induced migration in West Africa through the social transformation lens
title_full_unstemmed Understanding climate-induced migration in West Africa through the social transformation lens
title_short Understanding climate-induced migration in West Africa through the social transformation lens
title_sort understanding climate induced migration in west africa through the social transformation lens
topic migration
climate change adaptation
social change
policies
vulnerability
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/175384
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