Ⅰ. Introduction

Climate change affects all aspects of our lives. Beyond the frequent and intensified occurrence of natural disasters and extreme weather events, the consequences of climate change threaten our daily lives. Weather patterns are shifting from what we are accustomed to, frozen territories are melting, and human and animal habitats are overlapping, resulting in a greater prevalence of transmissible diseases. Some individuals may need to relocate due to increased climate risks. Additionally, as economies and societies adjust to cope with climate change, everyone’s daily lives are being altered. However, the burdens are not evenly distributed.

People with disabilities are more vulnerable to climate change. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) recognizes that individuals with disabilities experience the impacts of climate change more severely (UNHCR, 2020). They may face additional challenges during evacuations in natural disasters caused by climate change. Economic and social instabilities further threaten the daily lives of disabled people, resulting in increased marginalization (UNHCR, 2020).

Despite the greater risks for the disabled population, only a few studies investigate the impacts of climate change on disabled individuals (Gaskin et al., 2017). Most existing literature focuses on natural disasters, highlighting the disproportionate impacts on disabled people during such events (Lindsay et al., 2023). However, other aspects of climate change that affect daily lives must also be investigated. Although the impact of a single day may be minuscule, the cumulative effect of daily disruptions can become significant over time. Neglecting these impacts underestimates the total effects of climate change. There is a clear need for more studies on how climate change affects the daily lives of people with disabilities.

This paper aims to highlight the daily impacts of climate change on disabled individuals and identify the knowledge gaps. A scoping review is useful for examining emerging topics with limited previous studies and identifying research gaps (Arksey & O’Malley, 2005; Tricco et al., 2016). Therefore, this paper conducts a scoping review to synthesize evidence and conceptualize the daily impacts of climate change on disabled individuals.

Ⅱ. Methods

2. Inclusion/Exclusion criteria

Since the objective of this paper is to investigate the daily impacts of climate change on disabled individuals, only research specifically involving disabled people was included. Research on people with chronic illnesses was also included. Although there are controversies about whether people with chronic illnesses should be classified as disabled, Wendell (2001) argued for their inclusion. Therefore, this paper includes literature on the impacts of climate change on people with chronic illnesses.

Scoping reviews are conducted to provide an overview of evidence, and unlike systematic reviews, they may include meta-analyses and comments (Peters et al., 2024). Consequently, this paper includes meta-analyses and comments. The literature focusing solely on emergency impacts or calling for policy interventions without investigating effects was excluded. While the existence of comparison with non-disabled people is desirable, this paper includes studies both with and without comparisons. Articles in languages other than English were excluded, and there were no restrictions regarding the year of publication. The search was current as of May 27, 2024.

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Figure 1

Overview of the search process

Ⅲ. Results

Ⅳ. Discussion

While the vulnerability of disabled individuals is recognized, there is insufficient supporting evidence. This scoping review reveals a significant research gap in understanding the daily impacts of climate change on disabled people. More rigorous investigations across diverse topics are required.

Climate change affects disabled people through both direct and indirect pathways (UNHCR, 2020). This paper highlights the heterogeneous impacts of climate change on disabled individuals via a scoping review. However, as demonstrated, the existing literature is sparse and does not fully address the wide range of potential impacts. Henceforth, this paper will exemplify some potential cases of climate change impacts on disabled individuals, emphasizing the need for further rigorous empirical investigations into these areas

First, the exacerbation of disparities could result from regressive climate policies. However, few papers explore how such policies might aggravate marginalization. In response to climate change, countries worldwide are implementing mitigation and adaptation strategies. However, these policies can sometimes have unintended consequences. As Henrique and Tschakert (2021) point out, some policies disproportionately benefit advantaged groups, exacerbating existing inequalities. This can leave marginalized populations, including people with disabilities, in a worse position. Electric vehicle subsidies exemplify this issue.

Several scholars argue that government subsidies for electric vehicles primarily benefit higher-income earners. Guo and Kontou (2021) studied the distributional fairness of California’s electric vehicle rebate program, finding that high-income groups received the majority of benefits. This leaves less government funding available for programs directly aiding people with disabilities who may not be able to afford electric vehicles in the first place.

However, the challenges for disabled people extend beyond affordability. Even if they can afford an electric vehicle, the lack of accessible infrastructure presents a significant hurdle. Hong (2023) highlights the critical shortage of charging stations designed for people with disabilities. Wheelchair users, for instance, require additional space to enter and exit vehicles comfortably, necessitating wider door openings. Additionally, charging handles should be positioned at a low height for easy access. As of December 2022, according to Hong’s report, only 0.3% of Korea’s 19,000 electric vehicle chargers met these disability-friendly criteria. While transitioning to electric vehicles can be a valuable climate adaptation strategy, the lack of supportive policies creates a barrier for disabled people, potentially leaving them at greater risk.

Second, job security is a crucial aspect of life. Nonetheless, few papers acknowledge that climate change could impact people with disabilities by affecting their job stability. Climate change poses a significant threat to economic stability. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2022) reports that natural disasters and reduced productivity can hinder economic growth. Furthermore, the inherent uncertainty surrounding climate change, characterized by future scenarios and projections, discourages investments by businesses (Dixit & Pindyck, 1994). This combination of economic recession and heightened uncertainty often leads to labor market downturns (Denis & Kannan, 2013; Pries, 2016).

Research suggests that people with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by economic downturns. Kaye (2010) examined job losses during the 2007-2009 recession in the United States and found that workers with disabilities experienced higher job loss rates compared to their non-disabled counterparts. Similarly, a study by Jones et al. (2021) in the United Kingdom revealed that even when job losses were not prevalent, disabled workers faced harsher working conditions during the recession, including increased workload and reduced training opportunities.

While some might argue that legal protections safeguard job security for existing disabled workers, this argument has limitations. While protective laws may offer some security for employed individuals, they might also increase a company’s perceived "option value" of hiring someone with a disability. This, in turn, could lead employers to be more hesitant to hire disabled workers in the first place. Consequently, job seekers with disabilities might face greater difficulty finding employment during economic downturns.

Third, climate change could disproportionately impact people with disabilities by hindering the accumulation of cognitive skills. Park et al. (2021) investigated the impact of hot days—defined as temperatures above 26.7°C —on pupils’ learning abilities. They first utilized data from 58 countries to examine the relationship between hot days and test scores. In their international analysis, they discovered that one additional hot day before an exam decreased the test score by 0.18% of a standard deviation. However, this effect was more pronounced in less developed countries, indicating a heterogeneous impact. To further explore this heterogeneity, Park et al. (2021) analyzed U.S. data, where pupil characteristics could be more specifically identified. Their analysis showed that the impact was more significant for students attending schools in low-income districts. These results suggest that individuals with disabilities could also experience more significant impacts.

Ⅴ. Conclusion

While the importance of addressing the impact of climate change on disabled people is increasingly recognized, existing research remains limited. Much of the current literature focuses on the vulnerability of disabled populations during natural disasters, neglecting the broader effects on daily life. This scoping review identified this gap and highlighted the need for further research.

Disability encompasses a wide range of experiences, and climate change manifests in diverse ways. This complex interplay creates numerous intersections that require investigation. Importantly, people with disabilities are the most vulnerable group to climate change. By addressing their specific needs and vulnerabilities, we can effectively enhance the resilience of society as a whole.