Climate resilience and housing: residents’ adaptations to flooding in coastal urban areas in Vietnam

As climate change intensifies, cities worldwide are reevaluating their approach to coastal risk management in response to emerging storm patterns and rising sea levels, and compounding risks. This study explores how three highly exposed coastal urban areas —Boston (USA), Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Le Havre (France)—are reshaping their understanding and governance of coastal risk with distinctly socio-economic and institutional contexts. Coastal urban areas, and particularly port cities, are at the forefront of climate adaptation due to their concentration of vulnerable populations, and critical activities, which also must transition for climate mitigation. Drawing on Kian Goh's concept of "urban ecologies", insights from critical geography and analysis of administrative and policy studies, I investigate how these cities' approaches to coastal risks is recomposing, at the interplay between social, ecological, and infrastructural systems towards the consideration of “compound risks”. While Boston and Rotterdam put adaptation at the very core of their municipality's visions, programs and administrations, Le Havre struggles to translate its comprehensive management of industrial risks into a broader compounding climate risk. In every cases, compounding hazards challenge existing risk-management frameworks, and confront the development and political models of the agglomerations.The methodology employs a qualitative comparative case study approach, combining in-depth document analysis of municipal strategies with key informant interviews of urban managers (planners, etc.), environmental and infrastructures experts, and community stakeholders in both cities. The qualitative comparative framework seeks to complement existing large-scale studies, such as those by Wannewitz et al. 2024, which highlight the global gap and lack of adaptative, as well as more localized monographs. The research investigates three key questions: 1) How is climate change influencing the conceptualization of compounding risk in these urban contexts? 2) What organizational and policy transformations are being implemented to institutionalize adaptation at the local level? 3) How effective are these transformations in regard of identified compounding risks?Early results from the ongoing fieldwork suggest that while current rationale, policies, instruments and governance structures provide a foundation for adaptation, they must undergo significant transformations to address the challenges posed by climate change, and incorporate others that are developed in adjacent arenas. These existing frameworks, while useful, also present limitations that may hinder the necessary shifts toward more resilient urban futures.

ABSTRACTEarthquake-induced hazards are profoundly affected by site effects related to the amplification of ground motions, which are strongly influenced by site-specific geologic conditions such as soil thickness, bedrock depth and soil stiffness. Seismic disasters are often more severe in coastal or riverside locations than over stiff soils or rocks due to differences in local site effects. In this study, a recently developed geographic information system-based framework was applied in coastal and inland urban areas in Korea, and its applicability for regional assessments was evaluated using appropriate geostatistical zonation of site-specific seismic site effects. The proposed framework was composed of four functional components: multivariable statistical clustering, geostatistical optimization, geotechnical analysis, and local visualization. The framework was applied in the Seoul and Busan areas of Korea for consideration of site effects in inland and coastal urban areas. Such zones of thick soil, or with a deep depth to bedrock, are susceptible to ground motion amplification due to site effects during earthquakes. The earthquake losses associated with possible building damage can be estimated based on spatial zoning maps considering geological and topographical characteristics and by a comparison of the spatial correlations of seismic site classes between inland and coastal areas of Korea.

The relationship between city size, coastal land use, and air temperature rise with distance from coast during summer day is analyzed using the meso-scale weather research and forecasting (WRF) model in five coastal cities in Japan with different sizes and coastal land use (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, and Sendai) and inland cities in Germany (Berlin, Essen, and Karlsruhe). Air temperature increased as distance from the coast increased, reached its maximum, and then decreased slightly. In Nagoya and Sendai, the amount of urban land use in coastal areas is less than the other three cities, where air temperature is a little lower. As a result, air temperature difference between coastal and inland urban area is small and the curve of air temperature rise is smaller than those in Tokyo and Osaka. In Sendai, air temperature in the inland urban area is the same as in the other cities, but air temperature in the coastal urban area is a little lower than the other cities, due to an approximate one degree lower sea surface temperature being influenced by the latitude. In three German cities, the urban boundary layer may not develop sufficiently because the fetch distance is not enough.

Xie, N., 2020. Coupling of urbanization and the development of the marine tourism industry: An exploratory study. In: Gong, D.; Zhang, M., and Liu, R. (eds.), Advances in Coastal Research: Engineering, Industry, Economy, and Sustainable Development. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 106, pp. 213–216. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.The marine tourism industry has become one of the main industries in the economic development of coastal areas, which has rapidly promoted the development of urbanization in coastal areas. At the same time, with the rapid process of urbanization, the marine tourism industry is also developing rapidly, and interaction between the two is increasingly significant. With the rapid development of the marine tourism economy in China's coastal areas, the regional economy and urbanization in China's coastal areas have developed rapidly. Therefore, how to quantitatively analyze the coupling relationship between urbanization and the marine tourism industry has become a key issue, which is very important in studying the coordinated relationship between them. Urbanization and the development of the marine tourism industry is a benign interaction and harmonious symbiosis, which promotes the economic development of coastal areas. In this article, the coupling between them is studied quantitatively. Through data analysis, this article studies the coupling degree and coordination degree evaluation system based on comprehensive indicators. Then, this article constructs an interactive model of the marine tourism industry. Finally, this article puts forward some suggestions for the coordinated development of the marine tourism industry and urbanization.

Coastal urban areas have dramatically increased during the last decades, however, coastal research integrating the impacts and challenges facing urban areas is still scarce. To examine research advances and critical gaps, a review of the literature on coastal urban ecology was performed. Articles were selected following a structured decision tree and data were classified into study disciplines, approaches, type of analysis, main research objectives, and Pickett's paradigms in-, of-, and for- the city, among other categories. From a total of 237 publications, results show that most of the research comes from the USA, China, and Australia, and has been carried out mostly in large cities with populations between 1 and 5 million people. Focus has been placed on ecological studies, spatial and quantitative analysis and pollution in coastal urban areas. Most of the studies on urban ecology in coastal zones were developed at nearshore terrestrial environments and only 22.36% included the marine ecosystem. Urban ecological studies in coastal areas have mainly been carried out under the paradigm in the city with a focus on the disciplines of biology and ecology. Results suggest a series of disciplinary, geographical, and approach biases which can present a number of risks. Foremost among these is a lack of knowledge on social dimensions which can impact on sustainability. A key risk relates to the fact that lessons and recommendations of research are mainly from developed countries and large cities which might have different institutional, planning and cultural settings compared to developing and mid-income countries. Scientific research on coastal urban areas needs to diversify toward an ecology of and for the cities, in order to support coastal development in a diversity of countries and settings.

Large conservation opportunities exist in >90% of tropic-subtropic coastal habitats adjacent to cities

As recently, coastal areas have become residences, certain generations that include the family class rapidly inflow, but it is necessary to approach carefully whether the coastal area can be maintained as a good residence that is continuously chosen by many residents after the development boom of coastal areas soon goes slow. It is necessary to clarify differences in the evaluation of the waterfront space by generations in terms of the continuous development of the coastal area as a residence and to utilize them in the maintenance of the regional environment evaluated by various generations. This study aims to assess the evaluations of the actual conditions of the components of the surrounding waterfront space and their impact on the comprehensive satisfaction with the waterfront space based on the residents’ evaluation of the waterfront space in the residential environment of apartment houses in the urban coastal area, to identify differences in the evaluation of the elements of the waterfront space by generations from the youth to the elderly, focusing on the evaluation by each generation, to reflect the elements of the waterfront space with which various age groups can be satisfied in apartment houses in urban coastal areas in the future maintenance plan and to lay the foundation so that they can be utilized in setting up the residents-centered residential environment. As a result of the study, it turned out that there was a difference in the impact of the evaluations of the elements of the waterfront space on satisfaction with the waterfront space among generations. In particular, it is judged that it is important to focus on and utilize both “daily” space elements and “non-daily” space elements for the youth and the middle-aged and “daily” space elements for the elderly in order to enhance satisfaction with the waterfront space. In addition, till now, residences in coastal areas have been developed centered around the provider, but it would be necessary to realize the sustainable residential environment in which various generations can live satisfied in the coastal area in preparation for population growth in the future. To do so, it is necessary to form the appropriate waterfront space for demands of residents in multiple generations, considering differences in the elements of the waterfront space among generations affecting satisfaction with the waterfront space investigated in this study.

Climate change impacts on infrastructure: Flood risk perceptions and evaluations of water systems in coastal urban areas

Water-soluble anions and suspended fine particles have negative impacts on ecosystems and human health, which is a current research hotspot. In this study, coastal suburb, coastal urban area, coastal tourist area, and coastal industrial area were explored to study the spatiotemporal variation and influencing factors of water-soluble anions and total suspended particles (TSP) in Zhanjiang atmosphere. In addition, on-site monitoring, laboratory testing, and analysis were used to identify the difference of each pollutant component at the sampling stations. The results showed that the average concentrations of Cl−, NO3−, SO42−, PO43−, and TSP were 29.8 μg/m3, 19.6 μg/m3, 45.6 μg/m3, 13.5 μg/m3, and 0.28 mg/m3, respectively. The concentration of Cl−, NO3−, PO43−, and atmospheric TSP were the highest in coastal urban area, while the concentration of SO42− was the highest in coastal industrial area. Moreover, there were significantly seasonal differences in the concentration of various pollutants (p < 0.05). Cl− and SO42− were high in summer, and NO3− and TSP were high in winter. Cl−, SO42−, PO43−, and TSP had significant correlations with meteorological elements (temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, and wind speed). Besides, the results showed the areas with the most serious air pollution were coastal urban area and coastal industrial area. Moreover, the exhaust emissions from vehicles, urban enterprise emissions, and seawater evaporation were responsible for the serious air pollution in coastal urban area. It provided baseline information for the coastal atmospheric environment quality in Zhanjiang coastal city, which was critical to the mitigation strategies for the emission sources of air pollutants in the future.

Climate change is manifesting its influence on urban areas, intensifying apprehensions regarding their resilience in the face of future challenges. The challenges are notably pronounced in coastal city regions, marked by high population density and land use. Alongside the established perils inherent to coastal cities, such as irregular precipitation and cyclical water level fluctuations, the Caspian Sea region carries its own unique range of challenges associated with urban and industrial development, including activities like oil exploration and exploitation. The challenges associated with the Caspian Sea's rising sea levels for coastal areas highlight the importance of integrating natural and physical protective measures into the built environment. Within this context, various urban planning strategies play a crucial role in adapting to and efficiently managing a range of challenges, notably including flooding, displacement, and infrastructure damage. Baku, the largest city in terms of both size and population along the Caspian Sea, also grapples with the hazards linked to increasing water levels in its coastal urban areas. This is a significant concern for the city, as the increasing complexity of disasters disproportionately affects its coastal areas. Furthermore, the cyclic environmental risks in coastal urban areas are compounded by the growing influence of climate change, seismic hazards, and the potential for associated tsunamis. The article begins with the analysis of current resilient situation of Baku related to sea level rise, addresses risks related to ongoing urban projects on coastal areas and emphasizes the importance of transcending a one-sided (unidirectional) urban renewal approach. It illustrates the various components of a comprehensive and holistic (multidirectional) framework tailored for urban littoral areas, aimed at bolstering the resilience of Baku s coastal areas.

Climate change is manifesting its influence on urban areas, intensifying apprehensions regarding their resilience in the face of future challenges. The challenges are notably pronounced in coastal city regions, marked by high population density and land use. Alongside the established perils inherent to coastal cities, such as irregular precipitation and cyclical water level fluctuations, the Caspian Sea region carries its own unique range of challenges associated with urban and industrial development, including activities like oil exploration and exploitation. The challenges associated with the Caspian Sea's rising sea levels for coastal areas highlight the importance of integrating natural and physical protective measures into the built environment. Within this context, various urban planning strategies play a crucial role in adapting to and efficiently managing a range of challenges, notably including flooding, displacement, and infrastructure damage. Baku, the largest city in terms of both size and population along the Caspian Sea, also grapples with the hazards linked to increasing water levels in its coastal urban areas. This is a significant concern for the city, as the increasing complexity of disasters disproportionately affects its coastal areas. Furthermore, the cyclic environmental risks in coastal urban areas are compounded by the growing influence of climate change, seismic hazards, and the potential for associated tsunamis. The article begins with the analysis of current resilient situation of Baku related to sea level rise, addresses risks related to ongoing urban projects on coastal areas and emphasizes the importance of transcending a one-sided (unidirectional) urban renewal approach. It illustrates the various components of a comprehensive and holistic (multidirectional) framework tailored for urban littoral areas, aimed at bolstering the resilience of Baku s coastal areas.

This paper describes the state of the art of urbanization in Italian coastal areas in 2021, both at national and regional level. Moreover, we focused on six coastal municipalities, aiming to evaluate land consumption in relation to population dynamics between 2012 and 2021 and assessing per capita consumed land in each municipality. Finally, an analysis of land consumption in specific areas prone to natural risks along the coastline (hydraulic, landslide and seismic, hazard) was provided. We considered areas of medium hydraulic hazard, of high and very high landslide hazard, and of high and very high seismic hazard. The results indicate an intense process of urbanization in the first 1000 m from the coastline at national, regional, and municipal levels, which is also increasing in the presence of stabilization or dwindling inhabitants. Furthermore, urbanization is also affected by geomorphology, leading to the developments of settlements in the most accessible areas, such as coastal plains, without taking into consideration the presence of natural hazards. The study highlights the importance of monitoring land consumption to the understanding of processes related to urbanization in coastal areas, from the perspective of future effective policies and to support sustainable planning.

Background: In many urban developing countries, the main obstacle to expanding and providing piped water supply is the cost to consumers. The coastal area of Bandar Lampung City is a slum seaside area that has a poor piped clean water supply system that requires improvements to various aspects of the system. So it is important to estimate the Willingness to Pay of the community to improve the quality of sustainable clean water which is determined by their socio-economic characteristics. The purpose of this study is to identify the amount of willingness of the residents of the coastal area of Bandar Lampung City to improve the quality of clean water. Methods: The analytical method used is descriptive quantitative with Willingness calculations and binary logistic regression. This study will take a sample of 100 families living in Teluk Betung Selatan District, Teluk Betung Timur, Bumi Waras District, and Panjang District as areas that are in direct contact with the coastal area of Bandar Lampung City. Finding: The results of this study indicate that the average willingness of PDAM customers to pay to improve the quality of clean water is IDR 99,000 with gender and number of family members. Meanwhile, for residents who are prospective PDAM customers, the average willingness to pay is IDR 130,283 and the influencing factors are age and type of work. Conclusion: It can be seen that the willingness of the community to improve the quality of drinking water is quite high. The results of this study are as a reference for relevant stakeholders to improve the quality of clean water due to the high willingness of the community to pay in the coastal area of Bandar Lampung City. Novelty/Originality of this article:The novelty of this study lies in its contextual analysis of community willingness to pay for clean water improvement in coastal urban slum areas, an aspect rarely examined in previous research on water economics in Indonesia.

Relationships between coastal urbanization and ecosystems in Spain

Background: Evidence suggests that living close to “blue spaces” (water features), particularly coastlines, has salutary effects on human health. Methods: We analyzed five years of annual, self-reported general health and unhealthy days data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 165 urban areas across the contiguous U.S. We compared health self-reports for people living in coastal vs. non-coastal urban areas and for residents of the disaster-prone Gulf of Mexico region vs. other locations. Coastal urban areas were defined as those having ≥50% of their population living within 20 km of a coast. Results: We found no overall health advantage of residing in a coastal urban location when all urban areas were considered. However, residents from non-Gulf of Mexico coastal urban areas reported modestly better health than residents from non-coastal areas. In contrast, self-reported health of Gulf coastal urban residents was significantly poorer than that of residents from other urban areas. Conclusions: The frequency of disasters and history of health and socioeconomic disparities in the Gulf region may be responsible, at least in part, for the apparent lack of health promoting effects of coastal location there.