Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/248392 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Citation: 
[Journal:] Climatic Change [ISSN:] 1573-1480 [Volume:] 169 [Issue:] 1-2 [Article No.:] 9 [Publisher:] Springer [Place:] Dordrecht [Year:] 2021 [Pages:] --
Publisher: 
Springer, Dordrecht
Abstract: 
While a growing literature studies the effects of climate change on international migration, still only relatively little is known about the individual mechanisms linking migration decisions to climate change. We argue that climate change literacy (i.e., knowledge about climate change) is a major determinant of why some individuals consider migrating to other countries in response to climate change effects. In particular, climate change literacy helps individuals translate their perceptions of temperature changes into an understanding of these changes’ irreversible long-term consequences. We test this hypothesis using highly accurate geo-coded data for 37,000 individuals across 30 African countries. We show that climate change indeed leads to stronger migration intentions among climate literates only. Furthermore, we show that climate change only increases migration intentions among climate literates when it is approximated by long-run increases in local temperatures, but not when operationalized as changing heat wave or precipitation patterns. Further analyses show that climate literates are more likely to live in urban areas, have a higher news consumption, are highly educated, and have demanding occupations. Consequently, climate change may further deprive affected countries of valuable talent.
Subjects: 
international migration
migration intentions
climate change
climate change literacy
Africa
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
cc-by Logo
Document Type: 
Article
Document Version: 
Published Version

Files in This Item:





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.