ABSTRACT
The world has already experienced many extreme weather events and the consequences of these events are severe and will become even more severe in scope and intensity. In addition to the risks and crises associated with climate change, the world has also had to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in many deaths and socio-economic and psychological consequences. Since both (climate change and pandemics) affect human life in different ways, including population dynamics in terms of fertility, mortality and migration, this study aims to critically review the literature and discuss whether one or both issues will be the most influential driving force. The study also aims to look at the effects on population dynamics by visiting the arguments, results and implications of different studies to understand the diversified effects on society. The examination of the relevant studies shows that the frequency and magnitude of extreme climate events and COVID-19 are spatially different and the impacts of both events are geographically uneven and impose a double burden on humans and their well-being. For example, due to their vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change and the recent pandemic, poorer countries have a lower adaptive capacity and generally experience difficulties rebuilding and recovering from losses and damages. In addition, the results of the studies included in the assessment indicate that climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to affect population dynamics—mortality, migration and fertility. Extreme weather events and the recent pandemic may contribute to mortality differences, migration decisions, and fertility intentions, given the experience of weather events and the recent pandemic. Moreover, the effects of climate change and the pandemic are mixed, with either upward or downward trends, or sometimes both, in demographic components. This study argues for serious consideration of these issues as they will affect population dynamics closely linked to socio-economic, cultural, and political issues. There is an urgent need for detailed studies of the inevitable consequences of climate change and the recent pandemic by examining their impact on population dynamics. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.