A club convergence analysis of climate change from a cross-country perspective

Abstract Does evidence exist of convergence clubs in global climate change vulnerability/readiness? This question is pivotal as it dictates the necessity for policy collaboration in addressing climate change. This study investigates the climate change convergence hypothesis utilizing climate vulnerability index data from 136 countries spanning 1995–2020. Employing club convergence methodology, which clusters countries with similar characteristics while accommodating country heterogeneity, the analysis reveals an initial classification comprising 14 clubs. The study identifies that the first four clubs consist of low- and medium-low-income countries in Africa and South Asia, while the last four clubs comprise high-income countries situated among the USA, Canada, and Europe. These findings show high, low- and middle-income countries' responses to climate change.