Climate change, ecosystem services and migration in the Marshall Islands: are they related?

摘要: As one of the lowest-lying island nation states in world, Republic Marshall Islands is vulnerable to sea level rise, flooding and associated impacts on soil water salinity. Persistent drought further affecting agricultural production access drinking water, heat stress increasingly common. The number Marshallese people residing USA has increased rapidly from 6650 2000 an estimated 30,000 2018. While we know that climate change already there are significant migration flows, do not what extent migrate because change. This paper addresses this gap presents findings interdisciplinary fieldwork destination areas USA. research team conducted a survey (N = 278), focus group discussions, expert interviews geo-spatial analysis flood rates study relationship between climatic events, ecosystem services migration. results show respondents primarily cite education, health care, work family visits as drivers, only few mention or environmental However, identify their livelihoods, safety, finds correlations impacts, trends propensities at household level. Furthermore, 62% indicated affects decision return future.