Immigration issues along the US border continue to cause socio-political divides across the nation. However, amidst the chaos, little notice is given to the role that climate change plays in driving populations to seek refuge elsewhere.
According to author and journalist, Todd Miller, climate change is a key factor in forcing families to flee from Central America and Mexico. Droughts, floods, mudslides, and hurricanes are expected to plague the region with the looming threats of global warming. This will particularly hit small farmers.
Political Reasons for Migration:
The effects of NAFTA and CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement) place small farmers into direct competition with highly subsidized US agribusiness and grain movers. Around two million small farmers were displaced as a result. This population includes Mexicans feeling their homes as well as other Central Americans.
Ecological Reasons for Fleeing:
Todd Miller documented stories from farmers who had faced drought and hurricanes that led to massive devastation on local communities. Natural disasters and changes in climate were primary reasons for these individuals to flee north of the border.
Regions that extend from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras into Nicaragua, and that are comprised of small farmers who lack economic stability, depend on rainfalls, which they never receive.
The terrible conditions in this area have been occurring for 10 years and are connected to global warming. Holistic analysis of displacement has a strong ecological component that will allow for deeper understandings of how to deal with these issues.
Central America and its Precarious Ecological Climate
Central America has large bodies of water on two sides, making it susceptible to rises in sea levels. It also makes it vulnerable to storms, hurricanes and discrepancies in rainfall. This meaning that it will either experience drought or too much rain.
A report on Mexico points to an unstable future, predicting that by the year 2050, 1 in 10 Mexicans will be displaced due to climate related hazards such as hurricanes, droughts, and rises in sea levels. Currently, Northern Mexico and Arizona are in severe drought, and are predicted to last for some time. Additionally, many people do not have running water.
The Case of Silver Creek:
In his study, Miller looked at a bi-national water-harvesting project that is occurring on the US-Mexico border, and he focused on Silver Creek. No water runs through it for much of the year, and it only receives large amounts of water flow during monsoon seasons. There are a series of gabions embedded into the stream bed to help it retain water.
What is a Gabion?
A gabion is a steel cage that is filled with rocks that take on the role of a sponge. They slow down the water during the rainy season and release it in slower rates. This is also while allowing surrounding landscape to soak in the water and sediment.
Land around the gabion experiences tremendous benefits. Desert grass, willows and other trees grow back. Wildlife also returns to the region. This region on Arizona and Sonora was in a 15-year drought. However, gabions helped raise the water table by 30 feet.
Political Implications:
The US might do well in investing in climate relief and self-sustained projects. If only for its own benefit as in helping these countries, it can deter refugees from going North.
Global projections for the number of people displaced by climate change by the year 2050 range from 150 million to 1 billion. We definitely need to find ways from preventing that number from going up.
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