Impacts of Climate Change and Related Weather Events on the Health and Wellbeing of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities: A Systematic Review

Vulnerable populations such as culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD), ethnic minorities and racial groups face a disproportionate burden of climate change–related health impacts due to a combination of socio-cultural and economic factors, geographic vulnerabilities and health disparities. This review synthesised the existing evidence on the health and wellbeing impacts of climate change and related weather events among CALD communities.

A narrative synthesis approach was utilised to conduct a systematic review. Three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched, identifying 25 studies for appraisal and synthesis. Studies published in the English language from January 2010 to March 2024 were included in the review.

The reviewed studies, mostly carried out in the USA, employed varied study designs, and focused on diverse CALD groups such as migrants, farmworkers and racial and ethnic minorities. The included studies addressed broader and specific climate change–related events, ranging from heat-related impacts and hurricanes to occupational heat exposure. CALD communities were found to be more vulnerable to climate change–related negative physical and mental health issues, further exacerbated by poor living conditions, limited access to healthcare, and cultural and language barriers.

Future efforts by governments, healthcare agencies, employers and research institutions should prioritise multilingual risk communication strategies, providing culturally appropriate health education and healthcare access, housing improvements and the investigation of long-term health impacts of climate change and coping mechanisms adopted among CALD populations.