Examining the socio-economic vulnerability to climate change of persons with visual impairments in the Global South: a scoping study through the lens of the capability approach

This scoping review examined the factors shaping the exposure and adaptive capacity of persons with visual impairments to climate change hazards in the Global South. The study used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A total of 13 peer-reviewed studies published between January 2000 and January 2025 were analysed using the capability approach. The findings showed that exposure to flood-related hazards receives more attention in empirical studies than other climate change hazards, such as droughts. Consequently, most strategies discussed focus predominantly on exposure and adaptive capacity to floods. Additionally, the exposure and adaptive capacity of these individuals are influenced by both internal and external factors. However, there is limited discussion of how these factors intersect and contribute to overall socio-economic vulnerability. We recommend further research examining socio-economic vulnerability across a wider spectrum of climate change impacts, particularly droughts. Such studies should prioritise climate-sensitive livelihood activities, such as crop farming, which is highly susceptible to drought. Moreover, the study should examine the intersectional factors that affect their exposure and adaptive capacity. To advance this agenda, it is also necessary to develop a context-specific framework for assessing their socio-economic vulnerability to climate change-induced droughts.