Heat Waves and Cold Spells: An Analysis of Policy Response and Perceptions of Vulnerable Populations in the UK

Wolf, Johanna; Adger, W. Neil; Lorenzoni, Irene

doi:10.1068/a42503

Cited by 66 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 44 publications

(41 reference statements)

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“…There are a wide range of cognitive strategies that people may employ in face of current or future threats, ranging from denial and apathy, to helplessness, uncertainty and acceptance. How individuals and communities adapt to climate variability and change will depend on various thought process, values and ethics, in addition to how well they adapt psychologically (Wolf et al, 2010;Adger et al, 2009a,b;Lorenzoni et al, 2007). Consequently, these cognitive traits may influence the types of adaptation employed, if at all, and in certain instances can contribute to maladaptation.…”

Section: Norms Institutions and Opportunity Structuresmentioning

confidence: 96%

Exploring social barriers to adaptation: Insights from Western Nepal

Jones

Boyd

2011

Global Environmental Change

325

191

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Section: Norms Institutions and Opportunity Structuresmentioning

confidence: 96%

Exploring social barriers to adaptation: Insights from Western Nepal

Jones

Boyd

2011

Global Environmental Change

325

191

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“…The consistent theme from these studies was that people who perceived themselves personally vulnerable were more likely to protect themselves such as using air conditioners, hydrating, dressing lightly, and avoiding strenuous activities [25-31]. However, a qualitative study of people aged 75+ found that most participants did not consider themselves vulnerable to or threatened by heat [30] while, interestingly, these participants considered other people of the same age group as vulnerable but not themselves.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are heat warning systems effective?

et al. 2013

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Heatwaves are associated with significant health risks particularly among vulnerable groups. To minimize these risks, heat warning systems have been implemented. The question therefore is how effective these systems are in saving lives and reducing heat-related harm. We systematically searched and reviewed 15 studies which examined this. Six studies asserted that fewer people died of excessive heat after the implementation of heat warning systems. Demand for ambulance decreased following the implementation of these systems. One study also estimated the costs of running heat warning systems at US$210,000 compared to the US$468 million benefits of saving 117 lives. The remaining eight studies investigated people’s response to heat warning systems and taking appropriate actions against heat harms. Perceived threat of heat dangers emerged as the main factor related to heeding the warnings and taking proper actions. However, barriers, such as costs of running air-conditioners, were of significant concern, particularly to the poor. The weight of the evidence suggests that heat warning systems are effective in reducing mortality and, potentially, morbidity. However, their effectiveness may be mediated by cognitive, emotive and socio-demographic characteristics. More research is urgently required into the cost-effectiveness of heat warning systems’ measures and improving the utilization of the services.

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“…In their studies on vulnerable individuals' and their caretakers', own ideas about possible adaptation responses Wolf et al (2010) indicate that proactive planning and preparing for extreme weather events such as heat is not really considered by vulnerable individuals themselves. Rather, the interviewed elderly in this UK study of policy responses and perceptions of vulnerable populations reconciled to "just putting up with" both cold spells and heat waves.…”

Section: Adaptation Responsesmentioning

confidence: 96%

Vulnerability and adaptation to heat in cities: perspectives and perceptions of local adaptation decision-makers in Sweden

Jönsson

Lundgren

2014

Local Environment

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Climate change vulnerability is disproportionately distributed between different population segments in society. This study qualitatively explores how key stakeholders in municipalities (i.e. planning and operational staff in municipalities and the vulnerable themselves) construct social vulnerability in relation to climate change with a specific focus on thermal stress (i.e. heat waves) and which adaptive responses they identify at different levels. The empirical material consists of five focus groups with actors in a large Swedish municipality where the "Vulnerability Factor Card Game" was used as stimulus material to create 10 fictional individuals. The results show that there is a substantial amount of local knowledge about vulnerability drivers and inter-relations between social factors and vulnerability. Local decision-makers also defined a wide range of possible adaptation measures at different municipal levels. Our study clearly indicates that contextualised knowledge, which could complement the quantitative approaches in research, is abundant among municipal planners, staff employed at municipal operations such as health care, and among the vulnerable themselves. This knowledge remains untapped by research to a great extent and only seems to have an insignificant influence on policy-making. In particular, how impacts vary between different social and demographic groups and how adaptation strategies that target the most vulnerable could be defined are of great interest. The present study clearly indicates that social hierarchy may produce increased inequality in the specific context of climate change, vulnerability and adaptive responses at different levels.

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Heat Waves and Cold Spells: An Analysis of Policy Response and Perceptions of Vulnerable Populations in the UK

Cited by 66 publications

References 44 publications

Exploring social barriers to adaptation: Insights from Western Nepal

Exploring social barriers to adaptation: Insights from Western Nepal

Are heat warning systems effective?

Vulnerability and adaptation to heat in cities: perspectives and perceptions of local adaptation decision-makers in Sweden

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