A bibliometric review of climate change cascading effects: past focus and future prospects

The cascading effects of climate change have inflicted severe damage on natural ecosystems and socio-economic systems, posing formidable challenges to economic, social, and environmental development. However, a notable gap exists in systematic literature reviews that comprehensively detail current research in this domain. This paper seeks to bridge this gap by providing a systematic overview of the existing literature. Using the Citespace tool, we conducted a scientometric analysis of relevant literature spanning the years 1994 to 2022. This analysis allowed us to identify research priorities and trends by examining publishing countries, institutions, journals, and keywords. Our findings reveal a continuous increase in the number of relevant publications, with discernible stages of growth: slow, stable, and rapid. The United States is a prominent contributor in this area, with the largest number of publications, but Australia has the strongest international collaboration. However, geographical characteristics distinguish collaboration among different institutions, with cross-regional cooperation in research remaining relatively weak. Notably, research in developing countries is underrepresented, highlighting a priority for future investigations. Research focus areas encompass climate cascading in both natural systems and socio-economic systems, climate change mitigation, adaptation, and their co-benefits. The research hotspots have shifted from ecosystems and biodiversity towards human well-being and sustainable development. Future endeavors will emphasize curbing the negative cascading effects of climate change and promoting the integrated evolution of natural-human systems. The outcomes of this research hold the potential to provide a robust foundation for climate cascading studies, inform policymaking, and contribute significantly to sustainable development.