Climate-related shocks and stresses are adding pressure to the already precarious livelihoods of marginalised peoples experiencing poverty and a range of other constraints in the global South - and will increasingly do so with progressive climate change. 

This study provides an introductory outline of key concepts in climate change vulnerability and resilience, but places these firmly in a broader understanding of institutional and environmental vulnerability. 

A comprehensive review of the literature has been undertaken on four key topics:

• gender and climate change;
  
• children and climate change;
  
• older people and climate change; and
  
• social protection and climate change. 
  

This paper summarises the key insights from this literature to inform policy-makers, practitioners and researchers of the current thinking in this field.

Valerie Nelson