Climate Change-related Disasters Research Articles

The impact of climate change on food security among farmers in a coastal Area of Cambodia: a case study in Banteay Meas District, Kampot Province.

Climate change-related disasters, such as floods, droughts, windstorms, and heat waves have emerged as a severe threat in the 21st century. Different countries experience different scales of both physical and perceived damage. This paper examines farmer perceptions of climate change impacts on rice production and introduces an appropriate mechanism to build adaptive capacity at the local level. This research is based on a survey of 215 respondents from two communes in Banteay Meas District, Kampot Province. The results demonstrate that food insecurity has been a frequently perceived impact among farmers over the past decade. Farmers in Tnoat Chong Srang have faced transitory food insecurity after natural calamities such as floods, storm surges, droughts, and seawater intrusion. Farmers in Banteay Meas Khang Kaeut have encountered chronic food insecurity and poverty caused by reduced rice production caused by floods, windstorms, and increasing seawater intrusion. The research found that local adaptation strategies for climatic hazards can increase food security. In addition, all key stakeholders, both at the national and local levels, should take more action to ensure the resilience of rural communities. These actions should apply sustainable agricultural development focused on irrigation infrastructure, drought-tolerant rice varieties, social safety nets, and community-based projects selected by villagers. To successfully implement these actions policymakers and planners need to be able to clearly distinguish between chronic and transitory food insecurity.

Exploring Humanitarian response strategies in the aftermath of disasters induced by climate change in Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT This study explored the humanitarian responses to the scourges of climate change-related disasters in the Chimanimani district of Zimbabwe in southern Africa. This is against the backdrop of climate-induced disasters that have plagued the region before, with some of its consequences visible in the present day. Eleven humanitarian organisations that can aid victims of Cyclone Idai in 2019 were selected through purposive and convenience sampling. In-depth interviews were used to collect data. Also, data from which the findings were derived were analysed in terms of their thematic content. The study established that there was a commendable response from humanitarian organisations in addressing the destructive consequences of the cyclone. Some of the response strategies included the provision of food and non-food items, psychosocial support and counselling services, the protection of women and girls from abuse, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of infrastructure. We recommend that humanitarian organisations need to strengthen their disaster preparedness strategies in anticipation of unpredicted and potential destructive effects of climate change that place human lives and livelihoods at great risk.

Power relations: a catalyst in the building of flood disaster resilience capacities in the orashi region of rivers state

Climate change-related disasters have in recent years become a global phenomenon with catastrophic consequences. Africa has had most of the consequences of climate change related disasters, resulting in monumental urban and rural flooding, widespread casualties, displacements, loss of property and sources of livelihood. Given the long-term implications of climate change, it is critically important to understand how vulnerable communities respond to the menace occasioned by flooding. The impact of the flooding is felt more in low-lying communities situated along the coastal fringes leaving inherently vulnerable communities to the vagaries of flooding. However, despite of their vulnerability to flooding disasters, some people displayed resilience capacities more than others because of their apparent access to resources and power within and outside their localities. The study investigated the issue, through the application of the qualitative approach that drew the Bourdieusian theory of practice, deploying the analytical concepts of fields, habitus and species of capital to gather useful information from relevant focus groups to understand how various forms of power was employed to capture resources that enhanced resilience capacities in the seasonal flood prone Orashi region of Rivers State of Nigeria. Following the outcome of the analysis of the information gathered from the focus group and a review of relevant literature, it was revealed that most of the vulnerable population displayed some ingrained disposition and the deployment of indigenous knowledge and social capital for adaptation to survive flood disasters. It is therefore concluded that dynamics of power is a key factor in the resilience capacities of the population of the study.

Preface

Second International Conference for Agricultural Science (ICFAS 2021) presents “The Scientific Research is the Gate to achieve Food Security and Sustainable Development” as the main conference theme. This conference provides a forum for international researchers, academics, practitioners, policymakers and related communities to discuss, share and exchange their latest research and experience progress associated with the field of Biotechnology and modern advanced methods in addressing various environmental problems related to all lands, air, animals, desertification and the green environment. In addition, this conference also aimed to address a common issue of georesources sustainability, renewable energy sources and climate change related geohazard and disasters in the development of urban areas.ICFAS 2021 provides opportunities to all participants in expanding their network collaboration at the regional and international. We invited research papers on the topic of Soil, Water Resources and Dessertification Combat Axis, Horticulture and Plant protection Axis, Field Crops Axis, Farm Machinery, Economic and Agricultural Extention Axis, Biotechnology Axis., geo-environmental engineering and any related geoscience. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation during the year, it is not easy to hold a regular conference in a specific place. There were travel restrictions and regulations from the World Health Organization and the Iraqi Government to be complied with to cut the spread of the COVID-19 virus in terms of physical distancing. In this uncertain condition, the ICFAS should not be postponed since participants have arranged to address their research findings at this conference. Thus, the committees of ICFAS 2021 have decided to switch the conference format into a virtual meeting.The ICFAS 2021 is held online from 29-30 September 2021, Muthanna, Iraq and managed by the University of Al-Muthanna and College of Agriculture. This conference has attracted more than 122 papers submitted to the open conference Submission System. After being reviewed, the scientific committee has selected around 91 papers to be presented at this conference. During the plenary session of the conference, we were pleased to welcome sex distinguished experts to share their experience and present their insightful keynote speech. Participants did their presentations live, engaged throughout plenary, panel discussion and parallel sessions. Feedbacks, comments and questions from participants in all sessions were very positive and constructive. About 91 papers received final decision to be accepted and submitted for publication into the IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science.We would like to acknowledge all of those who supported the ICFAS 2021. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all scientific committees who made in-depth reviews of full papers, to sponsors who give their support, and to each individual and institutional help that is very important for the success of this conference. Thank you to all the organizing committee and related parties who built this virtual conference feasible and successful.List of List of committees for Second International Conference for Agricultural Science (ICFAS 2021), Tables, Photos, Logos are available in this pdf.

English

Climate Compatible Development (CCD) is an emerging development approach which seeks to minimize the threat posed by climate change while maximize the opportunities for development. In view of the adverse impact of climate change on the general development of the country, Ethiopia, a number of polices which constitute climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies have been adopted and established. Among such polices, Ethiopian water resources and disaster risk management policy is expected to have direct and indirect role in addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation. Rainwater harvesting, water shed management, use of water efficiently, small scale irrigation and water resource protection, strengthening drought and flood early warning system are adaptation strategies for water resource policy, and water harvesting and improved energy efficiency are low carbon footprint strategies/mitigation strategies. Disaster risk management policy also comprises climate change and variability related disaster risk reduction strategies; enhancing early warning information system, and safety net program as the climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, which are the major component of CCD. These policies also have its own limitation in relation to the system base and institutional gap in implementing CCD. In fact, these barriers can be eased by updating and/or adjustment of the policies under the framework of climate compatible development; mainstreaming climate change issues into water resource and disaster risk management policy; strengthening sector-wise linkage and synergy to avoid overlap; as well as monitoring the climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies among sectors. Key words: Climate change, low-carbon footprint, adaptation, mainstreaming, Ethiopia

Implication and evaluations of indoor soot particles from domestic fuel energy sources using characterization techniques in northern Pakistan.

Soot particles emitted from the burning of solid fuel sources in the households carry important environmental and public health implications. In this study, the indoor soot particles released from firewood, cow dung, and bagasse burning at households of selected rural areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan were investigated by characterization analyses to study its morphological and elemental compositions. Results demonstrated diverse compositions of soot particles from each fuel source. The surface areas of soot particles emitted by the firewood, cow dung, and bagasse were about 0.3, 0.4, and 8.64 m2 g-1 , respectively. For the soot particles emitted by the firewood burning, the major functional groups for aromatic compounds were C═C at the 1,431-1,599 at 1,000-2,000 cm-1 . The absorbance rate of alkanes was about 1,599-1,431 at 1,000-2,000 cm-1 . However, silicon band vibration was more prominent in bagasse soot particles as compared to other samples. The emission of soot particles with high surface area in the atmosphere could provide an elevated adsorption sites for atmospheric pollution and trap more energy resulting in increased atmospheric temperature. Findings from the present study suggest that current households' fuel combustion practices significantly contribute to increase the particulate matter in the atmosphere and possible enhance climate change phenomenon and related disasters in northern Pakistan.

Subsidy or minimum requirement? Regulation of port adaptation investment under disaster ambiguity

This paper models two commonly adopted regulatory polices (the minimum requirement regulation vs. subsidy) on port adaptation investment to mitigate the damage caused by climate change-related disasters. The ambiguity of the disaster occurrence probability and the decision makers’ attitudes towards risk are explicitly modelled. It is found, under the minimum requirement regulation, ports balance the option of increasing their adaptation vs. reducing their economic activities. In comparison, subsidies promote adaptation without introducing any incentive for ports to reduce outputs, but they can be less efficient than minimum requirement regulations in addressing market failures, such as that caused by a spill-over externality. The ambiguity of disasters changes the optimal designs of minimum requirement regulation and subsidy policy but does not change their relative ranking qualitatively. Decision makers’ risk attitudes also play important roles. Higher degrees of pessimism (more risk aversion) lead to lower port outputs but can also increase the level of port adaptation to achieve full insurance against disaster loss. Higher degrees of pessimism also make the government more conservative to intervene in the ports’ adaptation and thus less likely to impose the two regulatory policies. Our analysis also explains why it is justified for the government to withhold intervention under ambiguity, and also shows that the ambiguity does not necessarily bring worse expected social welfare.

Responding to Climate Change Disaster

Abstract. Climate change-induced disasters (e.g., bushfires, droughts, and flooding) occur more frequently and with greater intensity than in previous decades. Disasters can at times fuel social change but that is not guaranteed. To understand whether disasters lead to status quo maintenance or social change, we propose a model (Social Identity Model of Post-Disaster Action; SIMPDA) which focuses on the role of leadership in the aftermath of a disaster. Looking specifically at climate change-related disasters, we propose that intragroup and intergroup dynamics in both the pre-disaster as well as the post-disaster context affect whether leadership (a) has the potential to mobilize social identity resources to enable social change, or else (b) fails to capitalize on emerging social identity resources in ways that ultimately maintain the status quo. Given the importance of urgent climate change action, we predict that status quo maintenance is associated with post-disaster paralysis. In contrast, social change that is set in train by capitalizing on social identity-based resources holds the promise of greater post-disaster learning and enhanced disaster preparedness when it is focused on addressing the challenges brought about by climate change. We apply this model to understand responses to the 2019/2020 bushfires in Australia. Our analysis suggests that while an emerging sense of shared identity centered on acting to tackle climate change provides a window of opportunity for securing increased disaster preparedness, this opportunity risks being missed due to, among other things, the absence of leaders able and willing to engage in constructive identity-based leadership.

Drought conditions appraisal using geoinformatics and multi-influencing factors.

The world including South Africa is faced with unprecedented environmental changes, which can be linked to climate-related disasters such as drought and extreme heat. Several studies have indicated that these changes are likely to accelerate in the future and cause an adverse impact on the environment. The Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, especially Amathole District Municipality (ADM), has recorded a high number of climate change-related disasters including prolonged drought conditions witnessed during the winter season of 2008, 2009, 2014 and 2015 among others. Consequently, this study aimed at exploring remote sensing information to assess and document drought occurrences in the ADM from 2007 to 2017. To accomplish the aim, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Land Surface Temperature and Precipitation were utilised to access drought spatiotemporal variations. For the analysis, a total of 396 satellite imageries (MODIS and TRMM) were used. The results revealed that different correlations exist between the three variables. The significance of correlations differed from one season to another. Furthermore, it was revealed that the drought conditions in the district differed in the spatial distribution. The study accurately identified the drought episodes that occurred in the ADM in the years 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015 and 2016. The chosen methodology and variables proved to be suitable for analysing drought conditions offering space and temporal variation dimension, which is vital in monitoring drought events.

Verification of forecasts for extreme rainfall, tropical cyclones, flood and storm surge over Myanmar and the Philippines

Within the humanitarian sector, there is a pressing need to scale up anticipatory action as climate change-related disasters increase. This article evaluates forecasts relating to extreme weather events – extreme rainfall, tropical cyclones, river flooding and storm surge – in Myanmar and the Philippines to assess the feasibility of using such forecasts to develop early warning systems and responses. To make best use of limited extant data, a variety of methods (reliability diagrams, hit rates, false alarm ratios, correlations) are employed. We review the skill of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) tropical cyclone forecasts and find that whilst errors in cyclone position are relatively small, forecasting intensity is more difficult. When a tropical cyclone has formed, the probabilities provided in the ECMWF track forecast are highly reliable and only slightly overconfident. A tropical cyclone activity product is relatively reliable for forecasts less than a week ahead for North Indian Ocean cyclones affecting Myanmar, but becomes very overconfident beyond this. Looking at flood forecasting models, a comparison of the Global Flood Awareness System (GloFAS, produced by the ECMWF and the European Commission as part of the Copernicus Emergency Management Services) with the Global Flood Forecasting Information System (GLOFFIS, produced by Deltares) demonstrates that both GloFAS and GLOFFIS have difficulty simulating 1 in 2 year return period flows or higher, although GloFAS performance is better than GLOFFIS. GloFAS reforecasts show significantly overconfident probabilities over Myanmar where discharge observations are available, whilst the lack of a GLOFFIS reforecast prevents evaluation of this forecast system directly. Evaluation of the ten-day operational storm surge forecast (the Global Storm Surge Information System, GLOSSIS) produced by Deltares was attempted but lack of any data prevented assessment. These findings present valuable insights into how well forecasts perform, which is crucial information for establishing effective humanitarian action mechanisms.

Harnessing of Social Capital as a Determinant for Climate Change Adaptation in Mazungunye Communal Lands in Bikita, Zimbabwe.

The livelihoods of rural people have been plagued by the precarious impacts of climate change–related disasters manifesting through floods, heat waves, droughts, cyclones, and erratic temperatures. However, they have not remained passive victims to these impacts. In light of this, rural people are on record of employing a plethora of adaptation strategies to cushion their livelihoods from climate change impacts. In this vew, the role of social capital as a determinant of climate change adaptation is underexplored. Little attention has been paid to how social capital fostered through trust and cooperation amongst rural households and communities is essential for climate change adaptation. This study explored how people in Mazungunye communal lands are embracing social capital to adapt to climate change impacts. The researchers adopted a qualitative research approach guided by the descriptive research design. The population of the study was gathered through simple random and purposive sampling techniques. Accordingly, the population sample consisted of 25 research participants drawn from members of the community following the simple random and purposive sampling techniques. In-depth individual interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect data. Data were analysed through the Thematic Content Analysis. This study established that different forms of social capital are being embraced by the community members to withstand the effects of climate change. These include village savings clubs (fushai), chief's granary (Zunde raMambo), collective field work (nhimbe), and destocking of livestock (kuronzera) strategies. These strategies illustrate community reliance on indigenous knowledge adaptation strategies as a community response to impacts of climate change on their livelihoods.

Exposure to Hurricane Harvey flooding for subsidized housing residents of Harris County, Texas

This article contributes to research on social vulnerability to natural hazards by analyzing the relationship between spatial patterns of flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey and subsidized rental housing residents. Our study area is Harris County, the most populous county in Texas, which includes the city of Houston and was severely impacted by Harvey-induced flooding. We sought to determine whether: (1) federally subsidized housing units and residents were disproportionately located in areas with greater flood extent and (2) areal extent of flooding around subsidized housing developments was greater for developments where higher proportions of socially vulnerable households reside. We integrated information from the US Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Harvey flood depths grid with US Department of Housing and Urban Development data on relevant rental assistance programs. Results from multivariable generalized estimating equations indicated significantly higher percentages of subsidized housing units and residents in neighborhoods with greater flood extent, after accounting for pertinent spatial and social factors. We also found subsidized housing developments with more extensive flooding nearby to contain significantly higher percentages of extremely low income, female-headed and older (62 + years) households. Findings have important implications for future research and policy, since these socio-spatial inequalities are likely to be reproduced through climate change-related disasters projected to affect many cities within and outside Texas.

Is Flood Risk Priced in Bank Returns?

Climate change related disasters are projected to increase considerably over our lifetime, and storms and floods cause the highest financial damages. Using a comprehensive future flood risk measure matched to bank holding companies in the United States, I find that a higher exposure to future flood risk results in higher excess returns. This is consistent with the interpretation that investors demand compensation for their increased risk exposure. The result is stronger for smaller and less levered banks. Furthermore, I construct a flood risk factor from bank returns that cannot be entirely explained by the conventional bank risk factors. And, I show that the flood risk factor can explain up to 30% of the variance of bank stock returns.

Assessment of Climate Change Related Disasters in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands. A Case of Baringo County, Kenya

The main objective of this study was to identify Climate Change Related Disasters (CCRDs) in Arid and Semi-arid Lands such as Baringo County. The study used a descriptive survey design. Purposeful sampling and stratified proportionate random sampling procedures were used to obtain the Sample. A sample of 376 households were selected for the study in Baringo County. Questionnaire, key informant interview schedule and observations were the main instruments of data collection. Analysis of data was done using the SPSS. Percentages were used to analyse CCRDs. Drought, storms and floods are climate change related disasters affecting Baringo County. About 80 percent of the households strongly agreed that drought is the most common disasters affecting the County. Vegetation clearance is the main cause of CCRDs in Baringo County hence there is need to increase awareness on climate change and encourage people to use alternative sources of energy and plant trees.

The role of social media-led and governmental information in China's urban disaster risk response: The case of Xiamen

Social media is an emerging communication channel in natural and climate change-induced disaster situations. Yet, its role is context dependent and may not be as effective in all settings. This article examines its use in China. In cities and in the domain of environmental risk, social media is playing an emerging role in Chinese citizens' efforts to voice concerns and express critique to state actions. At the same time, our case-study shows how its use remains limited in cases of natural and climate change related disasters. We have examined this in the case of Typhoon Meranti that hit the city of Xiamen, China, in September 2016. Based on an online survey with 630 respondents and an analysis of social media blogs, this case-study shows how Xiamen citizens value official information (transmitted via warning texts or mainstream media) over individual perspectives shared through social media. In the Typhoon Meranti case, much of the information shared was official warnings and information taken from government websites or media reports. Comparing our results with other relevant literature on China suggests that, in cases of disaster emergencies, particularly in natural disasters—where immediate and accurate information is needed— citizens value China's top-down information structure over informal information from social media.

A historical approach to understanding governance of extreme urban heat in Fukuoka, Japan

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to contribute to emergent understandings in research into urban climate change-related disasters (such as extreme heat), which recognise that present-day actions or failures of cities to address climate risk are rooted in a historical context.Design/methodology/approachThe paper analyses content of scientific journals produced by the not-for-profit Kyushu Environmental Evaluation Association in Fukuoka since the 1970s. The aim is to evaluate the shifting understanding and conception of a liveable urban environment within Fukuoka over time and assess how this narrative has informed capability to understand and manage extreme heat as an emergent disaster risk.FindingsThe strong technical competences enabling Fukuoka to undertake evidence-based management of risks from climate-related disasters today exist at least partially because of earlier environmental concerns within the city and an early emergence of techno-scientific competence within the city's research institutions working at the science–policy interface.Originality/valueThe findings suggest a need to avoid uncritically exporting “lessons” from apparent urban climate “success stories”, without full recognition of the historical context enabling production and utilisation of weather and climate knowledge in specific locations.

Who feels the impacts of climate change?

Feeling affected by climate change related disasters has the potential to mobilize belief in climate change, concern about the issue, and support for mitigation policies – even when accounting for the effects of physically living through a disaster. In this study we use a two-wave survey design where respondents in the United States were interviewed before and after Hurricane Florence to better understand who feels affected by such disasters. First, we find that being worried about climate change increases the feeling of being affected by the hurricane among those who regularly discuss climate change. Second, we find that those who are high in perspective taking are more likely to feel affected. However, those who are high in empathic concern, but feel obligated to help victims of disasters, are less likely to feel affected. This suggests that hurricanes may cause a collapse of compassion, where those who are especially sensitive to the suffering of others down-regulate their emotional response to costly disasters.

The role of perception of local government officials on climate change and resilient development: a case of Uttarakhand, India

PurposeThis paper aims to gain insight on the perception and role of the local government officials on climate change and resilience in Uttarakhand, India. Uttarakhand, being a sensitive mountainous region in India, faces the brunt of frequent climate-related disasters and their severe impacts. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how authorities perceive the issue of climate-related disasters and their level of commitment toward mitigation and adaptation programs.Design/methodology/approachThe literature review method was used for a holistic understanding of the impact of climate change and consequential disasters. A questionnaire survey method, comprising open- and closed-ended questions, was also used on officials of different departments.FindingsAmong the noteworthy findings of the study include the understanding of the perceptions of authorities and their role in decision-making on mitigating impacts of climate change-related disasters, their support or lack of it, for measures toward capacity building and spreading awareness of the intervention programs by the government. The study analyzes the perception of decision-making officials at state and district levels and infers that the variation on opinions may be attributable to multiple factors, including their past experiences of dealing with disasters.Originality/valueThis study offers insights into the role of perception of local government officials concerning climate change-related disasters and alleviation of their consequences through related programs. The findings have the unique potential to serve as a guide for the government at state and district levels to assess various aspects of different disaster mitigation measures based on sectors and departments.

Disparities in Health Effects and Access to Health Care Among Houston Area Residents After Hurricane Harvey.

Although research shows that public health is substantially affected during and after disasters, few studies have examined the health effects of Hurricane Harvey, which made landfall on the Texas coast in August 2017. We assessed disparities in physical health, mental health, and health care access after Hurricane Harvey among residents of the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, Texas, metropolitan statistical area (ie, Houston MSA). We used structured survey data collected through telephone and online surveys from a population-based random sample of Houston MSA residents (n = 403) collected from November 29, 2017, through January 6, 2018. We used descriptive statistics to describe the prevalence of physical health/mental health and health care access outcomes and multivariable generalized linear models to assess disparities (eg, based on race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability) in health outcomes. Physical health problems disproportionately affected persons who did not evacuate (odds ratio [OR] = 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.19-0.87). Non-Hispanic black persons were more likely than non-Hispanic white persons to have posttraumatic stress (OR = 5.03; 95% CI, 1.90-13.10), as were persons in households that experienced job loss post-Harvey (vs did not experience job loss post-Harvey; OR = 2.89; 95% CI, 1.14-7.32) and older persons (OR = 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06). Health care access was constrained for persons whose households lost jobs post-Harvey (vs did not lose jobs post-Harvey; OR = 2.73; 95% CI, 1.29-5.78) and for persons with disabilities (vs without disabilities; OR = 3.19; 95% CI, 1.37-7.45). Our findings underscore the need to plan for and ameliorate public health disparities resulting from climate change-related disasters, which are expected to occur with increased frequency and magnitude.

Seaport adaptation to climate change-related disasters: terminal operator market structure and inter- and intra-port coopetition

ABSTRACT With the prevalence of global terminal operators in port operation, the market structure of terminal operator companies (TOCs) becomes more important in shaping intra- and inter-port competition and cooperation (i.e., coopetition). The port adaptation investment to climate change-related disaster might also be affected by such TOC intra- and inter-port coopetition. This paper examines analytically how the TOC market structure could affect ports’ adaptation investment. More specifically, it considers two landlord-type ports within a region that compete with each other. The two ports are subject to uncertain disaster threats and have an asymmetric number of TOCs. The analytical and numerical results suggest that more TOCs at the own port and the competing port have opposite impacts on the port's adaptation investment. An inter-port TOC joint venture would decrease the adaptation at both ports. Moreover, the TOC market structure is found to moderate the effect of disaster uncertainty on port adaptation. That is, TOC intra- and inter-port coopetition can strengthen or weaken ports’ sensitivity to disaster occurrence uncertainty. Finally, the regional welfare is found to increase monotonely with the two ports’ total adaptation. It is suggested that the regulators encourage new TOC entries while restricting inter-port TOC joint ventures. The cases with heterogeneous disaster uncertainties at the two ports are also examined.