Systematic review uncovers a disparity paradox in smart climate resilience technologies across regional planning, indicating that high costs and algorithmic bias worsen inequality.
Smart technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), geospatial analytics, and big data can enhance climate resilience but may also exacerbate socio-spatial inequalities. This systematic review of 26 peer-reviewed studies (2020–2025) examined how these technologies support climate adaptation, the barriers to equitable adoption, and policy pathways for inclusive resilience. Qualitative coding of 485 data segments using MAXQDA identified three themes: adaptive governance and innovation, smart climate-adaptive systems, and resilient socio-ecological frameworks. The findings reveal a Climate-Tech Disparity Paradox, whereby technological advances improve resilience while reinforcing inequities through limited access, high costs, algorithmic bias, and urban-centred planning. To address this challenge, the review proposes the Synergistic Climate Adaptation Nexus (SCAN) framework, integrating open-source technologies, community participation, cross-sector governance, adaptive feedback, scalable solutions, and capacity building to promote equitable climate resilience and advance Sustainable Development Goals 11 and 13.
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Zahiri et al. (2026) studied this question.
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