Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change: perceptions and experience in an Arab urban locality in Israel
2022; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; Volume: 2022; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1289/isee.2022.p-0622
ISSN2169-2181
AutoresAlix Pahaut, Bnan Egbaria, Alaa Obeid, Maya Negev,
Tópico(s)Disaster Management and Resilience
ResumoBACKGROUND AND AIM Situated in a climate hotspot, Middle East cities should assess their vulnerability and build climate resilience. Understanding the population's perceptions and existing adaptation can support appropriate preparedness action. We aim to analyze climate change experience, vulnerability, adaptation, and perceptions in Shefa-'Amr. METHODS Mixed methods: 1) online questionnaire, 2) semi-structured focus groups; both with resident population. RESULTS Questionnaire respondents (n = 482) represented the three local religions, 58.2% women, overrepresentation of higher education. 96.8% indicated they believe climate change is happening, 50.6% answered they were "very worried" about it. 47.7% and 28.6% of respondents indicated that they have experienced "some" negative health consequences from extreme heat and heavy rain/flooding, respectively. Respondents indicated high rates of willingness regarding preparedness actions like signing a petition (89.8%), ensuring good housing drainage (88.3%), planting trees (85.6%), or designing buildings to require less air-conditioning (83.8%). They were relatively less interested about whether political candidates include climate preparedness in their agenda (65.5%). There was low willingness to sell or exchange land, a socio-politically sensitive topic, for developing local green spaces (32.8%). Social resilience was not very high, 1.64 ± 0.49 (1 – 3 scale). Focus groups (n = 8, 4-8 per group, total 52 participants) revealed a contrast between traditional adaptation to heat methods and current reliance on air conditioning, lack of resilient urban infrastructure and inequality with neighboring Jewish municipalities, mixed attitudes towards preparedness (active and fatalistic) and towards social resilience, and frustration towards the municipality. CONCLUSIONS Mixed methods showed high levels of awareness and concern regarding climate change, and willingness to take a range of actions. Focus groups revealed a more complex picture of social resilience. These findings can be used to engage with and advocate for the community in resilience building. KEYWORDS climate change, adaptation, preparedness, vulnerability
Referência(s)