Which populations are most vulnerable to climate change in marginalized areas?
Subquestions
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What are the key socio-economic and demographic factors (e.g., income, gender, age, education) that contribute to increased climate vulnerability in marginalized populations?
read all What are the key socio-economic and demographic factors (e.g., income, gender, age, education) that contribute to increased climate vulnerability in marginalized populations?
Key finding
Approximately 25% of the stressors contributing to climate vulnerability are biophysical, mainly linked to natural resource degradation, pollution, and climate-related events such as floods and droughts. In contrast, 75% of the stressors are social, including poverty, unemployment, inadequate healthcare, weak agricultural markets, governance challenges, and globalization.Women are the most affected, experiencing higher food insecurity, malnutrition, and lower access to land, financial resources, and climate adaptation tools. Gender disparities in decision-making, mobility, and education further restrict their ability to respond effectively to climate-induced challenges. Socio-economic patterns also lead to disproportionately higher mortality rates among women following climate-induced disasters.
Short SummaryVarious stressors contribute to human vulnerability, with women being disproportionately affected by climate change. Many women experience malnutrition as they often prioritize feeding their families over themselves during food shortages. Women also have limited access to land, financial credit, training, and climate adaptation technology. Due to gendered labor roles, they face greater difficulties in decision-making and resource control, reducing their adaptive capacity compared to men. These inequalities stem from unequal power dynamics, social norms, and restricted access to critical resources, making women among the most vulnerable groups in marginalized communities.
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How do geographic location and environmental factors, such as proximity to coastlines or arid regions, exacerbate the vulnerability of certain populations to climate change in marginalized areas?
read all How do geographic location and environmental factors, such as proximity to coastlines or arid regions, exacerbate the vulnerability of certain populations to climate change in marginalized areas?
Key finding
Understanding climate risk is essential for effective adaptation efforts, and various assessment methodologies have been developed. Despite the increasing recognition of climate vulnerability, the dynamic interplay between exposure and vulnerability remains insufficiently explored in assessments.
Short summary
Climate risk extends beyond physical hazards, encompassing institutional, attitudinal, asset-based, and social vulnerabilities. However, exposure is often overlooked as a dynamic factor, with limited consideration of how land-use changes, urbanization, and socio-economic shifts shape future risks. While some assessments model sea level rise (SLR) and flood inundation, most fail to integrate evolving spatial and economic conditions. Addressing climate vulnerability effectively requires a more dynamic approach that accounts for both environmental and socio-economic transformations over time. -
Which specific livelihood groups (e.g., subsistence farmers, pastoralists, fisherfolk) are most at risk from climate impacts, and how does this vary across different marginalized communities?
read all Which specific livelihood groups (e.g., subsistence farmers, pastoralists, fisherfolk) are most at risk from climate impacts, and how does this vary across different marginalized communities?
Key finding
Pastoralist communities are highly vulnerable to climate change due to shifting precipitation patterns, droughts, and extreme weather, compounded by restrictive policies, land dispossession, and economic marginalization. The study identifies six pathways of vulnerability, highlighting how pastoralists adapt despite structural barriers. Effective policy responses must support mobility, land rights, and market access rather than framing pastoralism as unsustainable.
Short summary
Pastoralist communities are highly vulnerable to climate change, not only due to shifting precipitation patterns, droughts, and extreme weather but also because of socio-political and economic pressures. This study identifies six pathways of pastoral vulnerability—Encroachment, Re-greening, Customary, Polarization, Communal, and No-Alternative—shaped by the intersection of climate impacts, restrictive policies, pastoral adaptation strategies, and the role of market integration. While pastoralists employ diverse adaptive responses, including herd mobility, resource sharing, and economic diversification, their ability to respond is often undermined by land dispossession, weakening customary governance, and exclusionary policies. Addressing pastoral vulnerability requires policies that recognize their complex socio-ecological systems, ensure land rights, support mobility, and provide equitable market access rather than framing pastoralism as inherently unsustainable.
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How do pre-existing inequalities in access to resources, healthcare, and infrastructure increase the vulnerability of marginalized groups to climate-induced disasters, such as floods, droughts, or heatwaves?
read all How do pre-existing inequalities in access to resources, healthcare, and infrastructure increase the vulnerability of marginalized groups to climate-induced disasters, such as floods, droughts, or heatwaves?
Key finding
Pre-existing inequalities in access to land, financial resources, healthcare, and infrastructure disproportionately increase the vulnerability of marginalized groups—especially women—to climate-induced disasters. Women are more likely to experience food insecurity, economic instability, and health risks due to their limited access to adaptation strategies, decision-making power, and financial support. Structural gender disparities in policy and disaster response further exacerbate their exposure and reduce their resilience to climate shocks.
Short summary
Women face systemic barriers that limit their ability to adapt to climate change, including restricted access to training, agricultural extension services, financial credit, and technology. These disparities translate into gender-specific vulnerabilities, as women are less likely than men to benefit from climate adaptation strategies, improved crop varieties, and climate information services. Limited land ownership rights and exclusion from agricultural research and development further constrain women's ability to adopt sustainable farming methods. Additionally, disaster response efforts often fail to address gender-specific needs, leaving women more exposed to economic and social disruptions caused by floods, droughts, and extreme weather events. Addressing these disparities through gender-inclusive policies and equitable resource distribution is crucial for building climate resilience among marginalized groups.
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What role do political and institutional factors, such as lack of representation and inadequate social safety nets, play in amplifying the vulnerability of marginalized populations to climate change?
read all What role do political and institutional factors, such as lack of representation and inadequate social safety nets, play in amplifying the vulnerability of marginalized populations to climate change?
Key finding
Political and institutional factors significantly shape climate vulnerability by determining access to resources, participation in decision-making, and the effectiveness of adaptation strategies. Women face systemic barriers in agricultural and environmental governance due to patriarchal norms and institutionalized gender biases. Limited political representation, weak land tenure rights, and exclusion from policy dialogues increase the vulnerability of marginalized populations, particularly women, to climate-induced food insecurity, economic instability, and displacement.
Short summary
Women adapt to climate change less effectively than men due to institutional barriers that limit their access to resources, decision-making, and financial support. Unequal representation in political and agricultural institutions reduces their ability to influence climate adaptation policies. Structural gender biases restrict women's social mobility, economic participation, and recognition as primary farmers, reinforcing their vulnerability to climate change. Additionally, rural households remain highly susceptible to climate variability due to the lack of social safety nets and regionally appropriate climate communication strategies. Institutional reforms are necessary to address these disparities and improve adaptive capacity among marginalized groups.
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How are vulnerable populations in marginalized areas coping with or adapting to climate change, and what external support is required to build their resilience?
read all How are vulnerable populations in marginalized areas coping with or adapting to climate change, and what external support is required to build their resilience?
Key finding
Vulnerable populations in marginalized areas employ a range of adaptation strategies to cope with climate change, including financial, structural, managerial, socio-cultural, and livelihood adaptations. However, pre-existing inequalities, lack of institutional support, and limited access to financial resources hinder their ability to build long-term resilience. Women, in particular, experience food insecurity, economic hardships, and limited political representation, making them disproportionately affected by climate change.
Short summary
Men and women adopt different strategies to cope with climate change, with women focusing more on structural and socio-cultural adaptations such as water harvesting, changing cropping techniques, and reducing meal consumption, while men engage in land reinforcement and micro-irrigation. Financial adaptation strategies such as selling assets and taking credit are widely used across vulnerable populations. Migration is another common coping mechanism, particularly among pastoralists and fishermen. However, institutional barriers, gender biases, and inadequate social safety nets limit the effectiveness of these adaptations. Addressing these challenges requires policies that enhance access to education, land rights, financial services, and climate-smart technologies for marginalized groups, particularly women.