Urban vulnerability and the contribution of socio-environmental fragmentation

Abstract

As ongoing parallel processes, urbanization and climate change call for overarching context-specific responses that tackle the complex challenges involved and include a comprehensive data base to identify the most pressing action needs. We argue that urban vulnerabilities must take centre stage in this regard. What comes to the fore in the context of urban vulnerability to climate-related hazards is the interaction of human systems with the environment. Understanding the impact of changes in temperature and precipitation on socio-ecological systems is therefore not enough. Insights into the complexity of urban development, social inequalities, economics and politics are needed. To address this complexity, the article focuses on the challenges associated with socio-environmental fragmentation patterns and residential vulnerability, since the interlinkages between them contribute substantially to furthering insights into the specifics of ‘urban’ vulnerabilities to climate-related hazards. An approach that combines socio-environmental fragmentation and residential vulnerability is presented. This approach explores socio-environmental urban developments as well as individual perceptions and capacities.

Examining vulnerability in a dynamic urban setting: the case of Bangalore’s interstate migrant waste pickers

“…Vulnerability to climate change cannot be divorced from the social, economic and environmental challenges that cities are exposed to (Krellenberg, Welz, Link, & Barth, 2016). The majority of the literature on vulnerability and adaptation to climate change has focused largely on rural lives and livelihoods as they are directly at risk from climate change (Satterthwaite, Huq, Pelling, Reid, & Romero Lankao, 2007).…”

“…This acknowledges vulnerability and the capacity to adapt as a product of the processes through which climate risks coalesce with other stresses (e.g. water scarcity, inadequate governance structures) (Krellenberg et al, 2016).…”

A spatial analytical approach for evaluating flood risk and property damages: Methodological improvements to modelling

“…As a place-based concept, vulnerability refers to the complex and dynamic interactions between people, structures and the physical environment of cities. For instance, vulnerable populations are often located in areas deemed least desirable (fringe, flood-prone, heavily industrialised, or degraded areas), with limited accessibility to services (Bull-Kamanga et al, 2003;Krellenberg, Welz, Link, & Barth, 2017) and in buildings with the least technological dependability (e.g., mobile homes; Maantay & Maroko, 2009, Kusenbach, Simms, & Tobin, 2010.…”

Barriers and enablers of local adaptive measures: a case study of Bengaluru’s informal settlement dwellers

“…Cities across the world house more than half of the global population, three quarters of which live in low and middle-income nations (Revi et al 2014). Furthermore, a majority of the population increase up to 2050 is expected to take place in developing countries, thereby propelling such cities to become power centres due to the concentration of resources and assets (ecological, physical, cultural, social, economic and political) (Krellenberg et al 2017, Revi et al 2014Satterthwaite, McGranahan, and Tacoli 2010). However climatic hazards in a city often intersect with inherent vulnerabilities associated with development deficits, poor governance structures and discriminatory urbanisation patterns adversely affecting individuals, households and communities, especially the urban poor (Chu and Michael 2018, Field 2012, Michael and Vakulabharanam 2016Michael, Deshpande, and Bhaskara 2018;Michael, Deshpande, and Ziervogel 2018).…”