Exploring the benefits and dis-benefits of climate migration as an adaptive strategy along the rural-peri-urban continuum in Namibia

Abstract The scale of climate migration across the Global South is expected to increase during this century. By 2050, millions Africans are likely consider, or be pushed into, because hazards contributing agricultural disruption, water and food scarcity, desertification, flooding, drought, coastal erosion, heat waves. However, migration-climate nexus complex, as question whether can considered a change adaptation strategy both rural urban space. Combining data from household surveys, key informant interviews, secondary sources related regional disaster, demographic, resource, economic trends between 1990 2020 north central dryland Namibia, we investigate (i) human flows influence on these (ii) benefits dis-benefits in supporting adaptation, perspective migrants (personal factors intervening obstacles), areas origin, destination. Our analysis suggests an climate-related push that could driving out-migration region peri-urban settlements country. While play role rural-urban migration, there also several pull (many which have been long-term drivers migration) such perceived higher wages, diversity livelihoods, water, health energy provisioning, remittances, better education opportunities, exchange non-marketed products. Migration reduce some risks (e.g. loss crops income due extremes) but amplify others stress insecure land tenure). Adaptation at ends rural–urban continuum supported by deeply embedded linkages model circular rural–urban-rural interdependencies. Results empirically inform current future policy debates around mobilities with wider implications Africa. Graphical abstract