Whilst there is a body of research on ‘climate change vulnerability’ which tends to conclude that poor people in developing countries are most vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change, very little research attempts to disaggregate ‘the poor’ and look in detail at specific issues and implications for socially excluded groups.
- Children: The literature generally reiterates that children are more vulnerable than adults to increased problems as an indirect and direct consequence of climate change. Key issues include children’s increased vulnerability to health problems and the need to ensure Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies are child-focused and include the perspectives of children and young people.
- Older people: A few documents from the public health literature are available on the increased health risks to older people as a result of climate change. The ability of older people to adapt to climate change may be affected by changes to family networks, migration, a lack of insurance or pension facilities among the rural poor and the need to care for orphaned grandchildren.
- Disabled people: The literature relates exclusively to estimating the increase in the number of people living with disabilities as a result of natural disasters or health consequences of climate change.
- Most resources argue that climate change has differential impacts on men and women, and that gendered aspects of mitigation and adaptation must not be overlooked by policymakers. Authors also emphasise the importance of strengthening women’s voice in national and international climate change negotiations.
