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Climate change effects on vulnerable populations in the Global South: a systematic review

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  • Bethuel Sibongiseni Ngcamu

    (University of South Africa)

Abstract

The climate and environmental changes in the Global South have devastating effects on vulnerable populations, which have been perpetuated by socio-economic and political as well as gender inequalities and non-existent interventions to adapt and mitigate its adverse effects. Underpinned by the Protection Motivation Theory and Social-Cognitive Preparation model, this systematic literature review article depicts how vulnerable populations are impacted by climate change in the Global South. Using the empirical data from credible databases including the Web of Science and Scopus, 23 articles published since 2018 were searched, retrieved, coded, and classified with three themes emerging from the synthesised literature. The analysis of the literature confirms that climate change indeed impacts vulnerable populations adversely; the adaptability mechanisms are not applied by governments which are contrary to the international frameworks; and lastly, that such groups are discriminated against, undermined, and overlooked in societal programmes and interventions to mitigate the impacts of climate-induced disasters. Climate change impacts have severely destroyed the livelihoods of vulnerable populations and are exacerbated by socio-economic and political inequalities, with the adaptation and mitigation mechanisms deemed ineffective. Gaps in current research studies include the paucity of empirical data shedding light on the interventions provided for sexual gender-based violence victims and punitive actions issued against the perpetrators during and in the aftermath of the climate-induced disasters. There is also scant empirical data testing the adaptation and mitigation mechanisms’ effectiveness.

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  • Bethuel Sibongiseni Ngcamu, 2023. "Climate change effects on vulnerable populations in the Global South: a systematic review," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 118(2), pages 977-991, September.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:118:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s11069-023-06070-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-023-06070-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anamaria Bukvic & Julia Gohlke & Aishwarya Borate & Jessica Suggs, 2018. "Aging in Flood-Prone Coastal Areas: Discerning the Health and Well-Being Risk for Older Residents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-25, December.
    2. Ishita Shahid Sams, 2019. "Impacts of Climate Change Induced Migration on Gender: A Qualitative Study from the Southwest Coastal Region of Bangladesh," International Journal of Social Science Studies, Redfame publishing, vol. 7(4), pages 57-68, July.
    3. Abhijit Datey & Bhawna Bali & Neha Bhatia & Leishipem Khamrang & Sohee Minsun Kim, 2023. "A gendered lens for building climate resilience: Narratives from women in informal work in Leh, Ladakh," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 158-176, January.
    4. Karen L. Akerlof & Paul L. Delamater & Caroline R. Boules & Crystal R. Upperman & Clifford S. Mitchell, 2015. "Vulnerable Populations Perceive Their Health as at Risk from Climate Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Sonja Ayeb-Karlsson & Dominic Kniveton & Terry Cannon, 2020. "Trapped in the prison of the mind: Notions of climate-induced (im)mobility decision-making and wellbeing from an urban informal settlement in Bangladesh," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 6(1), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Nathan J. Bennett & Jessica Blythe & Andrés M. Cisneros-Montemayor & Gerald G. Singh & U. Rashid Sumaila, 2019. "Just Transformations to Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-18, July.
    7. Mumita Tanjeela & Shannon Rutherford, 2018. "The Influence of Gender Relations on Women’s Involvement and Experience in Climate Change Adaptation Programs in Bangladesh," SAGE Open, , vol. 8(4), pages 21582440188, November.
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    2. S. Kaliraj & S. Shunmugapriya & C. Lakshumanan & D. Suresh & K. Arun Prasad & Reji Srinivas, 2025. "Flood risk zone mapping and future projections for the Thamirabarani river basin, Southern India: insights from decadal rainfall trends and GIS-based analytical hierarchy process technique," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 121(5), pages 5327-5361, March.
    3. Arshad, R. & Mininni, G.M. & De Rosa, R. & Khan, H.A., 2024. "Enhancing climate resilience of vulnerable women in the Global South through power sharing in DC microgrids," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(PA).
    4. Eleftherios Giovanis & Oznur Ozdamar, 2025. "The transboundary effects of climate change and global adaptation: the case of the Euphrates–Tigris water basin in Turkey and Iraq," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 68(4), pages 1935-1972, April.
    5. Goutam Elangbam & Abujam Manglem Singh, 2025. "How vulnerable are India’s North-Eastern hills to climate change? Understanding environmental and socio-economic drivers of climate vulnerability in the state of Manipur," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 265-295, March.
    6. Oche Joseph Otorkpa & Stephen Emmanuel & Faith Obuye & Chinenye Oche Otorkpa, 2024. "Impact of Climate Change on Global Health: A Comprehensive Review," Post-Print hal-04587989, HAL.
    7. Md. Salimul Alam Shahin & Paula Villagra & Bruno Mazzorana & Md. Juwel Rana & Imran Khan & Hamad Ahmed Altuwaijri & Abdulla Al Kafy, 2025. "Assessing Tsunami vulnerability indicators to enhance coastal resilience in Southern Chile," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 121(5), pages 5471-5525, March.
    8. Jing Tan & Lei Lin, 2024. "Exploring key social capital indicators for disaster preparedness in rural disaster-prone areas: a boosted regression tree approach," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 120(5), pages 4159-4180, March.
    9. Madeline E. Graham & Brenda A. Wilson & Davendra Ramkumar & Holly Rosencranz & Japhia Ramkumar, 2025. "Unseen Drivers of Antimicrobial Resistance: The Role of Industrial Agriculture and Climate Change in This Global Health Crisis," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-20, April.
    10. V. Sanz-Torro & C. Calafat-Marzal & J. M. Guaita-Martinez & L. Marti, 2025. "An integrated approach to resource efficiency, green markets and support measures in SMEs," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-24, December.

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