A Successful Early Warning System for Hydroclimatic Extreme Events: The Case of La Paz City Mega Landslide

Filho

Azeiteiro

et al. 2018

IJERPH

Climate change and variability are known to have an influence on human wellbeing in a variety of ways. In Latin America, such forces are especially conspicuous, particularly in respect of extreme climatological, hydrological, and weather events (EWEs) and climate-sensitive disasters (CSDs). Consistent with the need to study further such connections, this paper presents an analysis of some of the vulnerabilities of environmental health issues and climate-related impacts that are focusing on EWEs and CSDs in Latin American countries. The research includes an analysis of the (i) human and socio-economic development; (ii) geographical and socio-economic determinants of vulnerability and adaptability of environmental health issues (exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity); (iii) occurrence of CSDs from 1988 to 2017 and their direct impacts on human wellbeing (Total death and Affected people); (iv) an online survey on the perceptions of the effects of EWEs on human wellbeing in a sample of countries in the region; and (v) discussion of possible solutions. The socio-economic and development indices, and the International Disaster Database (EM-DAT) and Climate-Risk Index (CRI) disaster statistics suggest that the impacts of CSDs are primarily related to socio-economic determinants of human wellbeing and health inequalities. Also, >80% respondents to the survey say that the leading causes of climate-related human impacts are the lack of (i) public awareness; (ii) investment and (iii) preparedness. The paper concludes by adding some suggestions that show how countries in Latin America may better cope with the impacts of Climate-sensitive Disasters.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Assessment of the Relationships between Extreme Weather Events, Vulnerability, and the Impacts on Human Wellbeing in Latin America

Filho

Azeiteiro

et al. 2018

IJERPH

“…Emphasis is given to IDR, PoR and Po to develop climate, environmental, human and socio-economic vulnerability indicators aggregated into flexible indexes as shown in Clim-EcoHealth and CEHV-I. These indicators are useful as a management tool to design public policies and strengthen the adaptive capacity of communities and local governments, as well as the complex relationships between socio-economic development, management decisions and impacts (Aparicio-Effen et al , 2016a, 2017; Villamizar et al , 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Addressing climate adaptation in education, research and practice: the CLiVIA-network

Cabrera²,

Coronel

et al. 2017

IJCCSM

Purpose Climate change and variability are both a developmental and an environmental issue. Adaptation to climate change and variability has gained a prominent place on global and local policy agendas, evolving from mainly climate risks impacts and vulnerability assessments to mainly adaptation action, imposing new defies to higher education (HE). The purpose of this paper is to introduce the Climate Vulnerability, Impact, and Adaptation (VIA) Network (CliVIA-Net), a South American university-based coalition aimed at achieving a science for/of adaptation. Design/methodology/approach CliVIA-Net is a collaborative effort by academic groups from across the spectrum of the natural, social and health sciences focused on improving climate VIA on education, research and practice. In consonance with international literature and practices, the network shifted from a discipline-oriented approach to an interdisciplinary and Earth System Science (ESS)-oriented one. It seeks to advance fundamental understanding and participatory practice-oriented research and to develop a problem orientation question/solving answering methodology. A set of cases studies illustrates how CliVIA-Net faces adaptation and sustainability challenges in the twenty-first century. Findings Focusing on interdisciplinary graduate education, practice-oriented research and problem orientation practice on climate threats which are already threatening the environment, population’s well-being and sustainability, allows for the co-production of knowledge and solutions, as well stakeholders’ buy-in and commitment. Originality/value CliVIA-Net draws upon the results of evolving interdisciplinary approaches on global change and VIA education, the research partnership with stakeholders and decision-makers to develop environmental and health outcomes, e.g. vulnerability indicators and scenario planning.

“…Two extreme rainfalls have occurred: (i) February 2002: a heavy rainfall and hailstorm developed rapidly over the central and northern areas with a death toll of 74 people and 120 injured (traumatisms, hypothermia, depression, stress, anxiety and respiratory and cardiovascular illness). An early-warning system (EWS) and a risk map were developed to plan protective measures and land-use planning [ 69 ]; (ii) February 2011 (the rainiest February ever recorded): a heavy rainfall linked to a moderate La Niña event and mega-landslide affected 26% of the city (“Callapa region”), 6000 people, and 450 houses, 163 of which were buried. This mega-landslide developed slowly and enabled timely action and EWS activation; there were no deaths or serious health scenarios but cases of dehydration, with greater prevalence among children, diarrhoea in children under two, myositis, depression, stress, anxiety, acute respiratory infections, minor injuries, and ectoparasites among the evacuated people [ 69 ].…”

Section: Surveyed Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Comparative Analysis of Climate-Risk and Extreme Event-Related Impacts on Well-Being and Health: Policy Implications

Filho

Al‐Amin

et al. 2018

IJERPH

There are various climate risks that are caused or influenced by climate change. They are known to have a wide range of physical, economic, environmental and social impacts. Apart from damages to the physical environment, many climate risks (climate variability, extreme events and climate-related hazards) are associated with a variety of impacts on human well-being, health, and life-supporting systems. These vary from boosting the proliferation of vectors of diseases (e.g., mosquitos), to mental problems triggered by damage to properties and infrastructure. There is a great variety of literature about the strong links between climate change and health, while there is relatively less literature that specifically examines the health impacts of climate risks and extreme events. This paper is an attempt to address this knowledge gap, by compiling eight examples from a set of industrialised and developing countries, where such interactions are described. The policy implications of these phenomena and the lessons learned from the examples provided are summarised. Some suggestions as to how to avert the potential and real health impacts of climate risks are made, hence assisting efforts to adapt to a problem whose impacts affect millions of people around the world. All the examples studied show some degree of vulnerability to climate risks regardless of their socioeconomic status and need to increase resilience against extreme events.