Send message to Authors

Paper short abstract:

This paper investigates how development plans in LMICs address the effects of climate change on well-being amidst a pervasive climate crisis and the uncertainty it engenders. This will clarify research gaps to guide future research and practice supporting socially vulnerable populations.

Paper long abstract:

This study investigates the multifaceted and intersecting social dimensions of climate change on human well-being (Mearns and Norton, 2010) through an Evidence and Gap Map (EGM) developed in accordance with Campbell Collaboration guidelines (White et al., 2020). While substantial research has illuminated how climate change impacts on physical and mental health in higher-income countries (WHO, 2023; Lawrance et al., 2022), knowledge remains fragmented and elusive regarding existing interventions designed to prevent or mitigate its effects on broader well-being outcomes of socially vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

The study is grounded in the premise that well-being, and by extension, social development, is influenced by climate change across multiple dimensions, including health, employment, education, housing and social cohesion (Dorji et al., 2023). Drawing on Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) socio-ecological model (SEM) and the OECD’s How’s Life? framework (OECD, 2024), this research also builds upon Gough and McGregor’s (2007) seminal work on well-being in developing countries. While Bronfenbrenner’s model provides a structured framework for categorising interventions, the OECD framework offers a nuanced lens to explore the well-being outcomes these interventions seek to address.

The findings aim to inform future research and policymaking by identifying critical gaps and opportunities in designing development interventions that place human well-being at their core, within planetary boundaries (Rockström et al., 2009). This enquiry highlights the importance of formulating public policies that address human needs while promoting environmental sustainability and social equity, fostering resilience and enhancing the quality of life for vulnerable populations in a broader ecosystemic context.