Climate Just: supporting equitable responses to climate change through social vulnerability maps

Description

Historical carbon emissions are already locked into the climate system. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that associated impacts now persist, through extreme weather, climate-related events like floods and wildfires, or longer-term changes to the environment and biosphere. We must give urgent attention to tackling current and future emissions, but it is also vital to ensure that we are well adapted and prepared for the unavoidable changes ahead. Here, Professor Sarah Lindley, considers how the severity of climate change impacts differs between people and communities as a result of social vulnerability.

• In recent years, 77% of neighbourhoods have typically experienced weather hot enough to lead to excess heat-related mortality. However, not all people are affected equally.
• The Climate Just updated mapping tool and its wider resources enable policymakers to investigate geographical distributions of social vulnerability indicators (i.e. age, ill health) alongside maps for flooding or hot weather.
• Policymakers can combine information from Climate Just with in-house data and local community insight, catalysing limited resource to develop more effective, targeted and equitable adaptation measures.