Global Warming Could Push 6.7M Mexicans to Migrate to US

Rising temperatures due to climate change could result in mass migration from Mexico to the US, according to a study. Based on the assumption that climate projections are correct, experts estimate that up to 6.7 million Mexicans could migrate by 2080 as a result of crop failures and reduced food production. In the past, drops in agricultural production have caused Mexican farmers to migrate, but some say that economic growth is what fueled the rural exodus to urban centers, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Critics point out that it's "virtually impossible" to estimate migration patterns based solely on climate change projections. "It is just awfully hard to separate climate change from the many, many other factors that affect people's decisions whether to stay in agriculture or move," says one agricultural expert. Read the full article. (More migration stories.)