Climate Change Vulnerability, Adaptation, and Human Settlements

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Background

Climate issues have become a global concern and are impacting the sustainable development of human settlements worldwide. Adapting to climate change in these settlements is crucial to ensure that growth is not compromised and that the increasing global population can thrive in their own habitats. Even before climate change became a pressing issue, human settlements were already facing significant challenges. The compounding effects of climate change will further exacerbate these challenges, making human settlements vital in local, national, and global adaptation plans.

However, developing effective adaptation strategies requires a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and alternatives specific to human settlements, based on the National Climate Change Response (N.C.C.R.) insights. In recent decades, urban, rural, and coastal human settlements have encountered various environmental challenges such as rising temperatures, dramatic glacier melting, increased transportation usage, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and water pollution. Social challenges related to climate change, including health issues, difficulties in adaptation, food shortages, water problems, and economic instability, have also affected these settlements. Urban settlements, in particular, face complex and diverse implications from climate change, both direct and indirect.

The susceptibility of human settlements to natural and man-made risks worldwide, especially in developing nations like India, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, delta and coastal regions, and Small Island Developing States, is increasing due to climate change. Assessments of human settlements should consider location-specific vulnerabilities, encompassing economic, social, environmental, political, and cultural aspects. It is crucial to utilize gender-disaggregated vulnerability data generated at the local level to identify and address the root causes of gender-differentiated vulnerability.

National and local governments can employ a variety of risk assessment and adaptation planning toolkits that cover a range of communities, from cities to villages and informal settlements. Some of these toolkits are specifically designed for areas lacking resources or experience with adaptation planning. Several national adaptation measures are applicable across climate scenarios and offer additional social benefits, such as job creation and social equity. These measures can and should be prioritized, often complementing existing government policies and initiatives.

With these goals, this Research Topic seeks empirical and conceptual contributions on the following subjects, but not limited to:
• Climatic change in human settlements
• Ecosystem-based adaptation
• Community-based adaptation
• Disaster risk management
• Water quality issues and challenges
• Urban densification
• Rural housing subsidies

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

  • Brief Research Report
  • Community Case Study
  • Conceptual Analysis
  • Data Report
  • Editorial
  • General Commentary
  • Hypothesis and Theory
  • Methods
  • Mini Review

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

  • Brief Research Report
  • Community Case Study
  • Conceptual Analysis
  • Data Report
  • Editorial
  • General Commentary
  • Hypothesis and Theory
  • Methods
  • Mini Review
  • Opinion
  • Original Research
  • Perspective
  • Policy and Practice Reviews
  • Policy Brief
  • Review
  • Systematic Review
  • Technology and Code

Keywords: Community-based adaptation, Climate-resilient, Human settlements, Rural housing subsidies, Ecosystem-based adaptation, Urban densification, Socio-economic opportunities, Environmental impact assessment, Disaster risk management, Climate change, Ecosystem

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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Participating Journals

Manuscripts can be submitted to this Research Topic via the main journal or any other participating journal.

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