Vulnerability assessment studies on climate change: a review of the research in Mexico

Abstract

Vulnerability assessment studies on climate change are a substantial tool for the implementation of adaptation strategies that allow us to know what threats systems and their components (species, natural resources, populations, territories, among others) do face on climate change conditions, what actions are caused by them that increase their own vulnerability, and what strategies are implemented to reduce this vulnerability. The popularity of this research at the international level has caused different discussions about methods, components, and variables. How does the vulnerability to climate change have been assessed in Mexico? The objective of this article is to present a review of vulnerability assessment studies on climate change in Mexico, paying particular attention to study subjects, concepts, components, methodologies, tools, and applications. The method consisted of a systematic search and review of articles published on international databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Scielo). A total of 57 articles were reviewed. The results identify knowledge gaps in research of vulnerability on climate change in Mexico. The conclusions can be used as a guide to understand the theoretical-conceptual framework of vulnerability and to conduct future research on subjects and areas which are less studied in Mexico.