Research Ethics in Climate Change and Disaster Studies

Abstract

Operational ethics is a crucial aspect of climate change and disaster research, which mainly focuses on understanding their impact on people and the socio-ecological system. Research findings can provide valuable evidence to make effective policy decisions for disaster management. Therefore, there is an ethical requirement for carrying out reliable disaster research. Climate change and disaster research ethics highlight ethical concerns that apply to all research involving human beings. However, disaster research has unique aspects, such as the level of destruction experienced by participants and the need for quick research project launches. This study aims to explore the prevailing practices of research ethics in climate change and disaster studies, challenges, and potential solutions. To support the arguments, a narrative review approach has been applied. This study reveals that the key ethical issues related to research in this field include human involvement, protection of respondents' privacy, and minimizing harm. Other formalities related to ethical issues are institutional ethical approval, prior consent, potential challenges, participant recruitment, compensation, sociocultural issues, and conflicts of interest. Disaster research is believed to have considerable societal value due to its potential to improve climate change and disaster response. However, such studies require more justification than other research settings. Vulnerability is a significant issue for disaster research ethics, and it requires careful consideration and critical evaluation when evaluating protocols. In a disaster context, the vulnerabilities of study participants often and frequently shift unexpectedly. Ethical issues are also critical for promoting and preserving security, privacy, and data privacy in risky or severe circumstances. The study recommends that community involvement is necessary to uphold climate change and disaster research ethics.