Spatial and Linguistic Accessibility of Climate Change and Disaster Adaptation Resources in Multilingual Societies

Kliment Naydenov
Sofia University, Sofia, Bulgaria

https://doi.org/10.53656/for2025-05-09

Abstract. This article examines the critical intersection of language policy, climate adaptation, and disaster risk reduction, focusing particularly on how linguistic diversity influences the geographical accessibility of adaptation resources in multilingual societies. Effective climate adaptation and disaster preparedness depend heavily on accessible communication; however, language barriers can seriously compromise the understanding and application of key information, leading to life-threatening situations. This challenge is especially acute in developing countries, where multiple indigenous languages coexist with official or colonial ones, often resulting in a mismatch between the dissemination and comprehension of climate-related policies and resources. The problem is further compounded by the proliferation of complex technical jargon in climate change discourse – often derived from global languages – which alienates non-specialist and linguistically diverse communities from vital climate knowledge and adaptive strategies. Moreover, the disproportionate dominance of English in sustainability science and policy intensifies this issue, creating a significant knowledge–action gap and overlooking the translingual practices necessary for culturally and contextually relevant understanding across diverse populations. The urgency of global climate action, emphasized in United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 13, calls for a critical examination of these linguistic barriers, particularly as current market-driven models of economic development prove increasingly unsustainable. Therefore, developing a comprehensive understanding of how language policies affect the accessibility and effectiveness of climate adaptation strategies is essential for fostering equitable and inclusive resilience-building efforts.

Keywords: language barriers, multilingual societies, spatial and linguistic accessibility, linguodidactology

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