A study published in Nature Climate Change provides a map of areas most vulnerable to climate change. Authors say they hope to give governments and environmental groups a roadmap to help them identify the places where they should invest in protecting and restoring threatened ecosystems. The paper indicates the areas most impacted by climate change include southern Asia, western and central Europe, eastern South America, and southern Australia. Authors note this map differs from previous climate change maps, which are based largely on climate change exposure and show central Africa, northern South America, and northern Australia as the most vulnerable areas.

In this analysis, the vulnerability of each region is based on climate stability and vegetation intactness. The authors examined the expected stability of the climate with future predictions of climate change and the presence of native vegetation. The report is unique in its focus on human impact on land change through agriculture and urbanization.

Sources: Nature