Publication
In a new systematic review study, a team of authors from PRISMA analysed the existing literature and gathered evidence on whether, where and how climate change exacerbates economic inequality. The evidence from 127 peer reviewed papers shows that climate change impacts increase economic inequalities and disproportionately affect the poor, both
In a new systematic review study, a team of authors from PRISMA analysed the existing literature and gathered evidence on whether, where and how climate change exacerbates economic inequality.
The evidence from 127 peer reviewed papers shows that climate change impacts increase economic inequalities and disproportionately affect the poor, both globally and within countries on all continents. These results are valid across all types of physical impacts (temperature, precipitation, sea level rise, extreme events), assessment methods (econometric, simulation, etc), economic sectors and types of inequality (GDP, household income, consumption). The channels through which this occurs include economy wide effects, decreasing agricultural revenues, and decreasing labour productivity. The regressivity of climate change impacts calls for targeted compensatory mechanisms through international adaptation and losses and damages finance. At the country level, policy-makers should ensure funding is directed to low-income households.
Climate change impacts increase economic inequality: evidence from a systematic
Aurélie Méjean, Peron Collins-Sowah, Céline Guivarch, Franziska Piontek, Bjoern Soergel and Nicolas Taconet