Camden Conference Community Event

Climate Change, Conflict and Migration

The topic of climate change and its effects on the people of Africa will be discussed by Andrew Stancioff The lecture is free and open to all.

Western Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa are a good example of how climate can affect large populations and put millions of people at risk. Over the last 60 years climate change has had a very negative effect on large populations of various ethnicities and religions in West Africa. The result has been that poor crop yields and localized famines have forced large numbers of people to migrate both north and south. Many moved to Libya when the move was worthwhile and they were paid for fighting for Qadaffi. Some moved to Cote d’Ivoire when coffee and cocoa were in world demand. Still others moved to France legally and earned money to send home until they were extradited. This presentation will try to show how changing climate and growing population has resulted in an overwhelming need for people in West Africa to migrate to find a better life.

Andrew Stancioff is a geologist, natural resource planner, analyst, and manager with 35 years of experience in geology, hydrology, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, climatology, and oceanography.

This presentation is hosted by the Belfast Free Library and offered as a free community event in in anticipation of the 30th Annual Camden Conference –Refugees and Global Migration: Humanity’s Crisis, February 17-19, 2017. The 30th Anniversary Camden Conference Community Events Series is supported in part by the Maine Humanities Council.