Migration, habitability and climate change in Ghana in 2030 - Fuseina's story

This animated video tells the story of Fuseina and her family as they seek to cope with the impacts of increasing rainfall variability and then drought in northern Ghana. Her story shows that as climate change impacts intensify, not everyone will be able to move out of harm’s way. Those for whom migration is not an option, and those who care for them, may find themselves in increasingly vulnerable situations. 

This video builds on research undertaken by the EU-funded HABITABLE project, which examined how climate change, habitability and migration interact. As the impacts of the climate crisis combine with other risks, migration may serve as an effective adaptation strategy. However, it can also lead to increased vulnerability, and for many it is not an option, either by choice or due to a lack of resources. The links between climate change, habitability and human mobility are complex and highly context specific, with the reasons for and outcomes of migration dependent on a variety of social, political, economic, environmental and demographic factors. Developing plausible future scenarios of how global warming may shape migration in different contexts can aid the planning and implementation of measures to support adaptation, strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerability. 

The video was co-developed with experts on climate change adaptation, migration and sustainable development in Ghana, and aims to support the development of people-centred solutions to the climate crisis. This video is part of a series of scenario stories produced as part of the HABITABLE project.

For more information about the scenarios and their development, check out our “In search of a habitable future” report. 

Produced by: Joshua Knowles 

Directed by: Emily Wright O‘Kelly, adelphi research 

With special thanks to Samuel Ardey Codjoe and Mumuni Abu at the University of Ghana for their contributions.