The Scary Face of Climate Change Vulnerability and Impact in SADC Amidst Climate Data Challenges: - A Review

Abstract

Adverse climate-related vulnerability and impact severity are heightening across the globe and are eviler in developing countries where adaptation and mitigation strategies have the widest climate data-driven technological gap. In SADC, ignoring the primacy of climate data-driven approach contributes to heightened climate change vulnerability and impact severity, yet extant research has not deeply discussed SADC vulnerability and impact from its climate data scarcity standpoint. To our best knowledge, inquiries on SADC climate change crisis using climate data lens is novel. This study therefore aims to highlight the magnitude and trend of SADC vulnerability and impact severity amidst climate data challenges through a systematic scholarship chart on 129 extant documents. Results show how it is difficult to combat vulnerability and severe impacts in the absence of climate data. Study findings have implications for SADC (and global) policy makers, NGOs and other key role players to review digital climate data handling and processes for the benefit of citizenry and stakeholders.