Methodological and empirical insights from gender vulnerability and adaptation responses to climate change in South Asia–a systematic review
Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
Authors
Gender is a critical social component in determining vulnerabilities and shaping adaptive responses to climate change impacts. However, climate vulnerability and adaptation studies often fail to incorporate the interaction between gender and various socio-economic and cultural factors. This study analyses research articles from South Asia to examine empirical findings concerning gender vulnerability and adaptation. Systematically reviewing articles from 2000 to 2024, we identified 53 articles based on gender vulnerability and adaptation strategies in response to climate change. This review provides an in-depth account of methodological and empirical evidence on gender vulnerability, and adaptation, to climate change. More than half of the articles focus exclusively on the impact of climate change on gender vulnerability and adaptation practises within the agricultural sector. Another widely discussed theme identified is disaster, along with agrobiodiversity, forestry, and water. The study classifies methodological frameworks into two groups: gender-sensitive approaches, which consider other socioeconomic and cultural factors intersecting with gender, and less gender-sensitive approaches primarily relying on gender-disaggregated data. The latter often overlooks the intra-gender differences while assessing gender-differentiated vulnerabilities and capacities. The study strongly recommends further exploration of the intersectionality approach to account for a better understanding of complex gender and power relations, ultimately enhancing policy planning and implementation for more robust approaches.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Climate and Development |
| ISSN | 1756-5529 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 2025 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
- Development
- Geography, Planning and Development
- Global and Planetary Change
ASJC Scopus Subject Areas
- Adaptation, Climate change, Gender, Intersectionality, South Asia, Vulnerability
- Sustainability Governance
- Sustainability Science
- Sustainability sciences, Communication
Research areas
- SDG 13 - Climate Action