Exploring community risk perceptions of climate change - A case study of a flood-prone urban area of Taiwan

Abstract

The regional phenomenon of heavy rainfall under global climate change is extremely likely to induce flash floods in flood-prone urban areas and endanger the lives and safety of residents. Due to its low-lying land and the overdevelopment of urban areas, Hsinchuang District in New Taipei City, situated in the Taliaokeng River basin, is subject to routine flooding on some of its streets after heavy rainfall in a changing climate. Faced with the challenge, this study provides insights into risk perceptions of flood-prone communities that should be factored in risk communication to foster adaptive actions in responding to climate change. It is underscored that community perception of climate change is a factor in increasing local awareness of climate risk. The study used Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) cause-effect model as the information flow framework to assess community vulnerability and risk perceptions throughout semi-structured interview process. The focus was put on how the community risk perceptions were shaped in the context of social amplification of risk in responding to climate change. This methodological approach underscores community risk perceptions are an inherent part of the decision-making process, and helps to enhance adaptive actions of flood-prone communities. The study also underlined the risk communication in groups and social networks that contribute to the integration of structural and non-structural measures to advance understanding of community risk perceptions of future climate.