Adaptation measures on hydrological risks and climate change impacts in urbanized sub-region, Thailand: a case study in lower Chao Phraya River basin

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to explain the existing adaptation practices in an urbanized sub-region in the lower Chao Phraya River basin (CPRB) across different scales and dimensions. It offers an overview of water hazards in urban areas along the river basin to discover ways to deal with and recover from hazards via understanding the implications of existing and potential practice for the mitigation of hydrological hazards. Design/methodology/approach First, this study collected current adaptation strategies and measures from interview, focus group discussion, workshop organization, etc. to get the current adaptation strategies/measures for the whole CPRB and each specific area. Second, this study identified a set of criteria for evaluation from review of current publications and official reports. Then, the current adaptation strategies/measures were examined through a set of criteria to obtain the current situation of existing practices. Finally, analysis of key challenges and opportunities was done to propose supporting guidelines to reduce hydrological risks and incorporate further adaptation measures needed to boost resilience in the area. Findings Adaptation methods should focus on mixed adaptation, which integrates structural, social, organizational and natural adaptation, and to develop multi-dimensional collaboration. The adaption strategy has restricted the usage of some technologies and technical know-how, particularly in the area of climate change. As a result, intentional adaptation to become more inventive is required, to reduce hazards and improve disaster-response capacity. The various adaptation measures should be more integrated or more adaptive and to achieve greater cohesion and mutual benefit of individual measures, such as community-based adaptation or community-driven slum upgrading. Originality/value Hydrological risks are wreaking havoc on social, economic and environmental elements, particularly river flood, flash flood and drought in the Asia-Pacific region. Twenty-two existing adaptation options were evaluated with evaluation criteria such as scales of risks/impacts reduction, benefits of environmental and socio-economic and institutional aspects. The findings highlight the current situation of existing practices, key challenges and opportunities, which emphasized on natural-based solutions, raising knowledge and awareness and lessons learned on adaptation of hydrological risks. The existing adaptation measures will be suggested as supporting guidelines and master plans to minimize the hydrological risks.

Enhancing Urban Flood Resilience: The Role and Influence of Socio-Economics in the Chao Phraya River Basin, Thailand

“…The direction of local economic activities also concerns the pattern of the community and consumption. Urban expansion is based on population growth that causes the loss of the green space proportion in land use and land cover changes in the BMR [32,33]. This expansion increases the peri-urbanization in mega-cities like the Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR) [34].…”

“…Chao-Amonphat et al [33] • public knowledge and education • knowledge sharing and learning platform • behavioral changing • community resilience planning Limthongsakul et al [34] • community organization building for coordinating with public agencies…”

“…Building adaptive capacity must be based on identified risks to anticipate the effective adaptation [14]. Chao-Amonphat et al [33] indicated that urbanization in CPRB had increased flood risk and impact. After the research found the anthropogenic risk clustering districts -27 of 29 lower CPRB districts need to prove the relationship between urban socioeconomics, flood frequency, and impacts.…”

“…The gaps in resilience have been addressed in the adaptation and mitigation emphasize structural building [34]. It lacks an integration of social adaptation that can link to the long-term environmental problem [33,49]. This research can specify the urban socio-economic risk factors leading to adaptive capacity building in the BMR peri-urbanization.…”

The Resilience of the Built Environment to Flooding: The Case of Alappuzha District in the South Indian State of Kerala

“…Cities face substantial challenges in dealing with the consequences of climate-induced cataclysms, which are exacerbated by the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, heavy rainfall, and storms [1,2]. Globally, low-lying coastal cities are susceptible to flooding and changing ecological conditions that cause damage, destruction, and disruption [3][4][5]. Studies have projected that climate change and related factors may amplify the complexity of flooding, potentially engendering substantial societal repercussions.…”