Journal of Environment and Pollution
Climate Change Impacts on Oil Palm Productivity: A Review of Adaptation Strategies and Knowledge Systems for Resilience
Abstract
Loso Judijanto
Climate change has emerged as a key factor influencing the stability of oil palm productivity, particularly through its effects on temperature regimes, rainfall variability, and hydrological conditions. Understanding how these climatic pressures interact with adaptation strategies and knowledge systems is essential for strengthening resilience across oil palm production systems. This study aims to systematically synthesize peer-reviewed evidence on the impacts of climate change on oil palm productivity, with specific attention to documented adaptation measures and the role of knowledge systems in supporting adaptive capacity. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach was employed following a structured and transparent protocol. Data were collected exclusively from peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Scopus and published between 2020 and 2026. A total of 38 articles meeting predefined inclusion criteria were analyzed using thematic synthesis and cross-study comparison to identify dominant climate stressors, productivity responses, adaptation strategies, and mechanisms of knowledge systems. The results indicate that climate change affects oil palm productivity through interacting biophysical pathways, with yield responses strongly mediated by management intensity and adaptive practices. Water management, soil and nutrient optimization, and climate-resilient planting materials consistently reduced yield variability, while formal and experiential knowledge systems enhanced the effectiveness of adaptation. Overall, productivity resilience was shaped by the integration of climatic information, adaptive management, and knowledge exchange rather than by climatic factors alone. Future research is recommended to quantitatively assess the combined effects of multiple adaptation strategies and to further examine the contributions of knowledge systems across diverse production contexts.