Effects and resilience to climate crisis among adolescents: a narrative review on South Asian countries

Abstract

ABSTRACT This narrative review aims to assess the effects of the climate crisis on various aspects of adolescent wellbeing, and community level coping mechanisms being used to build resilience. This study summarizes research findings from eight South Asian countries based on a scoping review of the peer-reviewed and grey literature (critically evaluated) published between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2021. We have included multiple dimensions of climate change such as drought, floods, cyclones, tsunamis, storms, raised temperature/heatwaves, heavy rainfall, rising sea level, and glacier melt-related extreme weather events. Findings suggest Extreme Weather Events (EWE) affect adolescents and their wellbeing in various ways, with adolescent girls disproportionately harmed, as EWE are linked to early marriage, trafficking, gender based sexual and physical violence. Regional variation suggested , with Bangladeshi adolescents most vulnerable to EWE, followed by India and Pakistan. Floods, droughts and cyclones are the most commonly reported EWE affecting adolescents in the South Asian region. As the climate crisis is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of EWE, it will be critical to understand the gender sensitive impacts in more in-depth and find more sustainable solutions for the global problem that is adversely impacting the adolescent’s life, wellbeing, and development.