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Comparing climate change perceptions and meteorological data in rural West Africa to improve the understanding of household decisions to migrate

Author

Listed:
  • Florence De Longueville

    (Department of Geography & Intitute of Life-Earth-Environment, University of Namur)

  • Pierre Ozer

    (The Hugo Observatory, Department of Geography, University of Liège)

  • François Gemenne

    (The Hugo Observatory, Department of Geography, University of Liège)

  • Sabine Henry

    (Department of Geography & Intitute of Life-Earth-Environment, University of Namur)

  • Ole Mertz

    (Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen)

  • Jonas Ø. Nielsen

    (Geography Department, Humboldt University zu Berlin)

Abstract

Largely dependent on rain-fed agriculture, the West African populations could be severely impacted by climate change and variability. In this paper, we performed a literature review relating to perceptions of climate change and variability in West Africa, followed by an in-depth comparison between perceptions by rural dwellers of Burkina Faso and trends in meteorological data to discuss the importance of perceptions vis-à-vis climate trends in migration decision. Results showed that respondents perceived increasing temperature and worsening rainfall conditions over 1988–2007 matching with findings of previous studies but inconsistent with the trends observed in rainfall data. Given that climate change is recognized as a key driver of mobility on the one hand and the fact that climate change perceptions influence decision to migrate on the other hand, our results suggest to jointly include perceptions and climate data in future research on environmental migration in order to improve the understanding of household’s decision in response to climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Florence De Longueville & Pierre Ozer & François Gemenne & Sabine Henry & Ole Mertz & Jonas Ø. Nielsen, 2020. "Comparing climate change perceptions and meteorological data in rural West Africa to improve the understanding of household decisions to migrate," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 160(1), pages 123-141, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:160:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s10584-020-02704-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-020-02704-7
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    Cited by:

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    2. András Darabant & Birgit Habermann & Kibruyesfa Sisay & Christopher Thurnher & Yonas Worku & Selamawit Damtew & Mara Lindtner & Leisa Burrell & Abrham Abiyu, 2020. "Farmers’ perceptions and matching climate records jointly explain adaptation responses in four communities around Lake Tana, Ethiopia," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 163(1), pages 481-497, November.
    3. Lore Van Praag & Samuel Lietaer & Caroline Michellier, 2021. "A Qualitative Study on How Perceptions of Environmental Changes are Linked to Migration in Morocco, Senegal, and DR Congo," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/333295, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    4. Ozer, Pierre & Dembele, Adama & Yameogo, Simplice S. & Hut, Elodie & de Longueville, Florence, 2022. "The impact of COVID-19 on the living and survival conditions of internally displaced persons in Burkina Faso," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 25(C).
    5. Helbling, Marc & Auer, Daniel & Meierrieks, Daniel & Mistry, Malcolm & Schaub, Max, 2021. "Climate change literacy and migration potential: micro-level evidence from Africa," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 169(1-2), pages 1-1.

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