A scoping review of climate vulnerability indicators: implications for neighborhood-level vulnerability

The assessment and measurement of vulnerability to climate change have gained increasing attention, resulting in a growing body of literature and research. However, to date, efforts to synthesize the findings of this research, particularly its geographic and thematic foci, the scales at which vulnerability is assessed and the insights it provides, remain lacking. This scoping review examines studies published between 2000 and 2024 that explore vulnerability indicators and their integration into climate vulnerability indexes (CVIs). From an initial pool of 3,227 studies identified across two bibliographic databases (Scopus and Web of Science), 112 articles were selected for in-depth analysis, encompassing 27 climate indicators. The review reveals a predominant focus on single-event studies, such as heat waves or floods, with minimal attention to the spatial granularity required for more localized vulnerability assessments. Most research emphasizes individual sociodemographic characteristics such as age, sex, income, and education while neglecting structural and institutional dimensions that critically shape vulnerability. This lack of nuance limits the operational utility of CVIs for localized climate adaptation planning. Findings highlight the global imbalance in CVI research, with high-income countries receiving disproportionate attention. Furthermore, the limited conceptualization of vulnerability beyond traditional demographic indicators underscores the need for broader frameworks that incorporate governance, infrastructure, housing, and access to community resources. The review emphasizes the importance of enhancing data infrastructure and adopting localized spatial analyses to develop Climate Vulnerability Indices (CVIs) at the neighborhood level, ensuring more precise and equitable climate resilience strategies.