CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA AND PACIFIC ISLANDS

Abstract

Climate change has become one of the greatest threats to human security, destabilising economies and societies worldwide, with Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) identified as among the most vulnerable regions due to their reliance on
climate-sensitive sectors. migration, and food–agriculture systems interact as feedback loops under climate stress, leaving policymakers with limited evidence to design effective adaptation. The study, therefore comparatively assessed the socio-economic
consequences of climate change in SSA and the PICs to derive context-specific adaptation imperatives. A qualitative, exploratory design was adopted, drawing on secondary data from 2020–2025, including peer-reviewed literature, global climate reports, and regional datasets, and analysing them through a systems-thinking lens. Findings revealed that in SSA, climate stress reduced crop and livestock yields, strained supply chains, and increased rural–urban migration, while in PICs, sea-level rise and cyclones triggered
displacement, weakened fisheries, and overwhelmed health systems. Both regions faced overlooked mental health burdens that compounded socio-economic losses. The study recommended tailored adaptation portfolios: climate-smart agriculture and integrated
health preparedness in SSA, and ecosystem restoration, relocation governance, and renewable-energy diversification in PICs, supported by climate-justice-aligned finance and transparent monitoring systems.