Abstract
Coastal areas are highly susceptible to the effects of climate change, particularly to sea-level rise and extreme rainfall events, resulting in increased social and environmental vulnerabilities. In this context, the need for predictive planning instruments, especially in densely populated coastal areas, is a critical management priority. A number of indexes has been developed to assess coastal vulnerability. However, coastal vulnerability indexes are yet to simultaneously consider inland (e.g., landslides and flooding) and ocean (sea-level rise and coastal erosion) hazards in conjunction. To help fill this gap, we developed the Socio-Environmental Vulnerability Index for Coastal Areas. The proposed index is a diagnostic tool to assess the socio-environmental vulnerability of coastal regions in the context of climate change. Applied to the city of Santos, a coastal municipality in São Paulo state, Brazil, the index revealed that most of the city are in areas highly vulnerable to sea-level rise and floods related to extreme rainfall events. Findings show that, in fact, approximately 70% of the area of Santos (27.5 km2) consists of high vulnerability areas mostly located close to urban drainage channels, residential, and other built-in areas. Another 0.12% (0.05 km2) were classified as very high vulnerability areas compromising port and industrial infrastructure. These results highlights the susceptibility of the urban insular area of Santos to climatic change hazards. This study might prove relevant to support local decision-makers in preparing adaptation plans and responding to climate-related risks in vulnerable coastal cities.
Highlights
With the growth of human cities, especially the coastal ones, and the increase of the climate hazards due to climate changes, the vulnerability and risk levels are increasing
Since the first assessment report of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 1990 [1], vulnerability and risk assessments have been used as important approaches to examine climate change-related risks and impacts, such as variations in temperature, rainfall, and sea-level rise (e.g., [1,2,3])
Noteworthy is the number of indexes that have been developed to assess coastal vulnerability (e.g., [2,5,6,7]). This is true for Brazil; coastal vulnerability indexes are yet to simultaneously consider inland and ocean hazards in conjunction, which can be relevant especially in areas where the relief makes an important role on the landscape. To help fill this gap, we developed the Socio-Environmental Vulnerability Index for Coastal Areas (SEVICA) using the city of Santos, on the central coast of São Paulo, as a case study
Summary
With the growth of human cities, especially the coastal ones, and the increase of the climate hazards due to climate changes, the vulnerability and risk levels are increasing. This is true for Brazil (see e.g., [8,9,10,11]); coastal vulnerability indexes are yet to simultaneously consider inland (e.g., landslides and flooding) and ocean (sea-level rise and coastal erosion) hazards in conjunction, which can be relevant especially in areas where the relief makes an important role on the landscape To help fill this gap, we developed the Socio-Environmental Vulnerability Index for Coastal Areas (SEVICA) using the city of Santos, on the central coast of São Paulo, as a case study. It supports decision-making in preparing adaptation strategies in response to environmental change, climate-related change
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
