Assessing Socio-economic Vulnerability to Climate Change Impacts and Environmental Hazards in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia

Erin F Smith; Noni Keys; Scott Lieske; Timothy F Smith

doi:10.1111/1745-5871.12137

Back

Assessing Socio-economic Vulnerability to Climate Change Impacts and Environmental Hazards in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Assessing Socio-economic Vulnerability to Climate Change Impacts and Environmental Hazards in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia

Erin F Smith, Noni Keys, Scott Lieske and Timothy F Smith

Geographical Research, Vol.53(4), pp.451-465

2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-5871.12137

Files and links (2)

pdf

PDF - Published Version (Open Access)313.93 kBDownload View

Published VersionPDF - Published Version (Open Access)CC BY-NC V4.0, Open Access

url

https://doi.org/10.1111/1745-5871.12137View

Published Version

Abstract

global change

sensitivity

resource dependency

systematic literature review

indicators

This article systematically reviews and synthesises academic, peer-reviewed literature to assess the state of knowledge concerning socio-economic vulnerability to climate change impacts and environmental hazards in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. It focuses upon empirical research that identifies socio-economic factors associated with vulnerable subpopulations. Using systematic review methods, 35 articles met the inclusion criteria. These articles are analysed according to their general characteristics, the methods used, and the factors reported to be associated with socio-economic vulnerability. This body of evidence reveals that (1) the majority of the knowledge about socio-economic vulnerability in New South Wales and Queensland has only recently emerged; (2) more knowledge has been published about Queensland; and (3) extreme temperature is the most researched environmental hazard. Despite increased research activity over time, the number of factors repeatedly demonstrated to influence socio-economic vulnerability is small. Age, gender, place of residence, and pre-existing illness were the most commonly reported factors, although the influence of these factors upon socio-economic vulnerability is complex. There is scope to extend the empirical research base across a broader range of climate-related hazards and to better link findings from the domains of climate change vulnerability and population health.

Details

Title: Assessing Socio-economic Vulnerability to Climate Change Impacts and Environmental Hazards in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia
Authors: Erin F Smith (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts and Business
Noni Keys (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts and Business
Scott Lieske (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts and Business
Timothy F Smith (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts and Business
Publication details: Geographical Research, Vol.53(4), pp.451-465
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Asia
Date published: 2015
DOI: 10.1111/1745-5871.12137
ISSN: 1745-5863
Copyright note: Copyright © 2015 The Authors . Geographical Research published by Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd on behalf of Institute of Australian Geographers. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
Organisation Unit: School of Tertiary Access - Legacy; School of Education and Tertiary Access; School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Law and Society; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449278602621
Output Type: Journal article