Internal Migration Intentions Associated with Climate-Related Environmental Events: Evidence from the Forest-Savanna Transition Zone of Ghana

Mumuni Abu, University of Ghana and Pennsylvania State University

Migration is at the centre of demographic research on the population-environment nexus. Increasing concerns about the impacts of climate-related environmental events on human population fuel interest in what constitute climate-induced movement, and how to explain it. This paper examines internal migration intentions of respondents in the forest-savanna transition zone where their source of livelihood has been affected by climatic conditions. Using data from the CCLONG project, we employ binary logistic regression to examine migration intentions of households in response to climate-related events. The results indicate that climate-related environmental events are not significant predictors of migration intention when controlling for socio-demographic and economic factors. Also, among households in the forest environment, the perception that, prior coping strategies as a response to climate-related environmental events are inadequate is negatively associated with intention to migrate. We conclude that the complex relationship between climate-related environmental events and internal migration intention deserves further investigation.