Towards Urban Climate Justice: Integrating Social Vulnerability in Climate Adaptation Planning. A case study of Oostende, Belgium.
Authors
Berta, Julie Marie L ; Neumann, Saskia
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2024
Submitted on
2024-06-06
Abstract
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather, especially in densely built cities. These impacts do not affect everyone equally: exposure (where the hazards occur), sensitivity (how easily people are harmed), and adaptive capacity (how well people can cope) vary across neighborhoods and individuals. From an urban climate justice perspective, these inequalities should be part of climate adaptation planning, yet this is often missing in municipal practice. This thesis therefore asks how municipalities can assess social vulnerability to make climate adaptation fairer. Using the coastal city of Ostend (Belgium) as a case, it develops and tests a method that combines climate exposure and social vulnerability to create priority maps for adaptation measures. The method draws on literature reviews, interviews with municipal staff and other stakeholders, and case-specific data collection and analysis. The approach is feasible and easy to implement in other European coastal cities. It helps planners recognize social climate vulnerability, identify problem areas, and set spatial priorities for adaptation. Evaluated through the lens of Urban Climate Justice, the study concludes that the method is a valuable way for municipalities to integrate social vulnerability into climate adaptation planning.
Klimaforandringer øger hyppigheden og intensiteten af ekstreme vejrhændelser, især i tætbebyggede byer. Effekterne rammer ikke alle lige: Eksponering (hvor påvirkningerne rammer), følsomhed (hvor let man bliver ramt) og tilpasningskapacitet (hvor godt man kan håndtere påvirkninger) varierer både mellem områder og mellem individer. Ud fra et urban climate justice-perspektiv bør disse uligheder indgå i klimatilpasningsplanlægning, men det mangler ofte i kommunal praksis. Denne afhandling undersøger derfor, hvordan kommuner kan vurdere social sårbarhed for at gøre klimatilpasning mere retfærdig. Som case anvendes kystbyen Oostende i Belgien, hvor der udvikles og testes en metode, der kombinerer klimaeksponering og social sårbarhed for at skabe prioriteringskort for klimatilpasningstiltag. Metoden er udviklet på baggrund af litteraturgennemgang, interviews med medarbejdere i kommunen og andre interessenter samt casespecifik dataindsamling og -analyse. Tilgangen er gennemførlig og let at anvende i andre europæiske kystbyer og kan hjælpe planlæggere med at øge opmærksomheden om social klimamæssig sårbarhed, identificere problemområder og foretage rumlige prioriteringer for klimatilpasning. Set gennem linsen Urban Climate Justice konkluderes, at metoden er et værdifuldt redskab for kommuner, der vil inddrage social sårbarhed i deres klimatilpasningsplanlægning.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
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