Migration is often considered a form of climate change adaptation by which individuals, households, and communities seek to reduce the risks associated with climate change. In this study, we examine first-time seasonal migration out of a village in North-Western Burkina Faso to neighbouring countries, triggered by more irregular rainfall patterns. Through a set of 52 qualitative interviews, we analyse the perceptions of migrants themselves as well as the sending community regarding migration consequences. Men migrated in the off-season, whereas women stayed behind. Most migrant men and wives of migrants perceive migration to have negative consequences for their socio-economic situation and their health. Despite this, a lack of options and deteriorating environmental conditions might force the men to move again. We interpreted the range of narratives provided by women and men against the background of the scientific literature on migration as climate change adaptation. While migration could be beneficial, this study challenges the notion of migration as an effective adaptation strategy for people in climate-vulnerable settings, who lack other options.

移民通常被认为是适应气候变化的一种形式，个人、家庭和社区通过这种形式寻求减少与气候变化相关的风险。在这项研究中，我们研究了由更不规则的降雨模式引发的首次从布基纳法索西北部村庄到邻国的季节性迁移。通过一组 52 次定性访谈，我们分析了移民本身以及派遣社区对移民后果的看法。男性在淡季迁移，而女性则留在后面。大多数移民男性和移民的妻子认为移民对其社会经济状况和健康产生负面影响。尽管如此，缺乏选择和不断恶化的环境条件可能会迫使这些人再次搬家。我们将女性和男性在关于移民的科学文献背景下提供的各种叙述解释为气候变化适应。虽然移民可能是有益的，但这项研究挑战了移民作为一种有效适应战略的概念，适用于气候脆弱环境中的人们，他们缺乏其他选择。