Integrating socioeconomic dimensions into Climate Change Hotspot identification

Some, Shreya, Micu, Dana, Piracci, Giovanna, Bothe, Oliver, Bowyer, Paul, Urban, Aleš, Velea, Liliana, Adamescu, Mihai, Amihaesei, Vlad, Bojariu, Roxana, Bowyer, Paul, Dogan, Tugba, Falcescu, Vladut, Franceschinis, Cristiano, Giuca, Relu, Halsnæs, Kirsten, Jenkins, Katie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6740-5139, Ludvig, Alice, Mitter, Hermine, Paraschiv, Monica, Thiene, Mara, Vasilakos, Nicholas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3279-2885, Yousef, Latifa and Cheval, Sorin (2026) Integrating socioeconomic dimensions into Climate Change Hotspot identification. Environmental Research: Climate. ISSN 2752-5295 (In Press)

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Abstract

As climate impacts accelerate, "climate change hotspots" (CCHs) are increasingly used to prioritise limited adaptation resources. However, hotspot conceptualisation remains fragmented. To address this gap, this study first conducts an evidence synthesis of 353 studies to investigate how CCHs are conceptually defined and analytically identified across four major climate hazards (heat, drought, flood and snow). This synthesis shows that most existing hotspot methodologies are dominated by potential hazard intensity, while socio-economic dimensions, stakeholder knowledge and impact-based validation are rarely integrated. To address this knowledge gap, we develop a bottom-up integrated framework for CCHs identification. Transitioning away from a top-down hazard-centric approach, our bottom-up approach integrates biophysical and socio-economic data with event-based storylines and stakeholder consultation. The transferability of our framework is demonstrated through two European case studies, snow avalanches in Alps and Carpathians, and flash flood in Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy. The case studies identify hotspots by intersecting climate hazard data with local geographic characteristics and socio-economic information. In both applications, historical event-based storylines ground quantitative risk classifications in real-world disaster dynamics, while stakeholder consultations refine the localised exposure. The results reveal that Alpine and Carpathian snow hotspots are projected to persist and intensify by 2100. The flash flood hotspots remain concentrated in alluvial valley bottoms, where the hazard converges with dense socio-economic and infrastructural exposure. Our integrated framework provides an adaptable and transferable approach for identifying climate change hotspots. It can serve as good practice and can support the prioritisation of adaptation effort and planning across administrative regions and sectors.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	sdg 13 - climate action ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/climate_action
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Norwich Business School Faculty of Science > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Centre for Competition Policy Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > Responsible Business Regulation Group
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	07 Aug 2026 14:04
Last Modified:	10 Aug 2026 00:02
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/104048
DOI:	10.1088/2752-5295/ae958d

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