Unit summary

In this unit, you learned who vulnerable populations are and how they are affected by the impacts of climate change. You also explored strategies for equitable adaptation and mitigation that consider categories of people with different vulnerabilities. The following have been noted:

• People vulnerable to climate change include those with low income, indigenous peoples, children and pregnant women, older adults, vulnerable occupational groups, persons with disabilities, and persons with pre-existing or chronic medical conditions.
• Climate change causes direct effects, including death and destruction through the impact of extreme events, such as floods, wildfires, and hurricanes/typhoons, and indirect effects, like the disruption of plant and animal species, and individual trauma.
• Equitable adaptation strategies for vulnerable populations aim to reduce the disparities and vulnerabilities faced by these groups and empower them to cope with and adapt to changing conditions.
• Equitable mitigation strategies for vulnerable populations aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable practices while ensuring that these efforts do not exacerbate the vulnerabilities and inequalities these groups already face.