Mapping global research dynamics on climate change and land use land cover change: A bibliometric analysis using R studio

Maisuna Kundariati; Dea Fajria Tatarizqa  Japal

doi:10.61511/srsd.v3i1.2026.3186

Authors

Maisuna Kundariati Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Sciences, Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang, East Java 65145, Indonesia
Dea Fajria Tatarizqa Japal Sustainable Finance Program, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Islam International Indonesia, Depok, West Java 16425, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61511/srsd.v3i1.2026.3186

Keywords:

climate change, land use land cover change, bibliometrix

Abstract

Background: Land use and land cover change (LULC) has emerged as one of the most critical environmental issues influencing global climate change. Rapid urbanization, deforestation, and agricultural expansion have transformed landscapes, altering carbon cycles and ecosystem services. Previous studies have explored the links between LULC and climate change, yet global trends, research patterns, and thematic focuses remain fragmented. This study aims to map and analyze the global research trends on land use change and its relationship with climate change using a bibliometric approach. Methods: This study employed bibliometric analysis using data extracted from the Scopus database, focusing on publications related to land use change and climate change. The analysis utilized R Studio and bibliometric mapping techniques to identify key research themes, co-occurrence of keywords, and geographic distribution of publications. Theoretical support was drawn from the concepts of sustainable land management and ecosystem-based adaptation. Findings: The results indicate that “land use change,” “climate change,” “land cover,” and “remote sensing” are dominant research themes, reflecting the strong integration between geospatial analysis and environmental assessment. China appears as the most frequently studied region, indicating its central role in global LULC research. Other prominent themes include “ecosystem services,” “urbanization,” “watersheds,” and “sustainable development,” suggesting that current research increasingly integrates ecological and socio-economic perspectives. The findings also highlight a growing shift toward interdisciplinary studies combining spatial analysis, environmental modeling, and policy evaluation. Conclusion: The study concludes that global research on LULC and climate change is expanding toward integrative, data-driven, and solution-oriented approaches. Strengthening collaboration between countries and linking scientific findings to policy implementation are essential to address climate and land transformation challenges effectively. Novelty/Originality of this article: This article provides a comprehensive bibliometric synthesis of global LULC–climate change research, revealing emerging hotspots, dominant themes, and geographical focus areas. The study uniquely integrates spatial and conceptual mapping to highlight research gaps and directions for future interdisciplinary collaboration.

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