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Lunenburg Part 2 - Section 5 - Social Vulnerability - August 30.pdf

Lunenburg Part 2 - Section 5 - Social Vulnerability - August 30.pdf

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Dolan, A.H., and I.J. Walker. “Understanding <strong>Vulnerability</strong> of Coastal Communities to<br />

Climate Change Related Risks.” In Journal of Coastal Research. Itajai, Brazil, 2003.<br />

Dolan and Walker suggest a multi-scaled, integrated vulnerability framework that is to be locally<br />

relevant, and employs a community-based, bottom-up approach. This integrated framework<br />

considers both physical exposure and social vulnerability that leads to risk exposure and limits<br />

the capacities of communities to respond to risk. Therefore, vulnerability is viewed as a physical<br />

risk and social response in a defined geographic context.<br />

This study is concerned with both discrete climate hazards, and the long-term impacts of climate<br />

variability and change. <strong>Vulnerability</strong> is evaluated at both the individual/household and community<br />

level: indicators include demographic features such as gender, income, disability, and family<br />

composition; as well as community-scale determinants such as income distribution, reliance on<br />

natural resources and critical infrastructure susceptible to sea-level rise impacts, access to<br />

technology, and institutional frameworks. These features were assessed through qualitative,<br />

community-based research methods involving institutions, local decision-makers, resource users<br />

and residents. The authors emphasize the importance of grounding scientific knowledge in local<br />

experience. The goal is to enhance local-level capacity to deal with change within existing<br />

institutional frameworks.<br />

At the time of publication, the authors were engaged in the application of their framework to a<br />

case study in Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), British Columbia.<br />

Ford, J.D., W.A. Gough, G.J. Laidler, J. MacDonald, C. Irngaut, and K. Qrunnut. “Sea Ice,<br />

Climate Change, and Community <strong>Vulnerability</strong> in Northern Foxe Basin, Canada.” Climate<br />

Research 38 (2009): 137-154.<br />

This report documents a case study on an Inuit community, examining the processes and<br />

conditions shaping human vulnerability to sea ice change resulting from climate change. The<br />

study employs a case study approach, using retrospective analysis to examine how community<br />

members have responded to anomalous conditions; identify adaptive responses; characterize<br />

processes and conditions shaping vulnerability; and suggest the potential implications of future<br />

climate change.<br />

The authors emphasize the significance of non-climatic factors in shaping vulnerability to climate<br />

change impacts, and the roles of multiple, interacting climatic and non-climatic stressors that can<br />

magnify impacts.<br />

Critchley, J. (2011). <strong>Social</strong> <strong>Vulnerability</strong> to Storm Surges in Halifax Harbour. Dalhousie<br />

University Bachelor of Community Design Honours Thesis.<br />

In his 2011 Bachelor of Community Design Honours Thesis, Dalhousie University student<br />

Jonathan Critchley performed an assessment of social vulnerability to storm surge for the Halifax<br />

Harbour. In consultation with planning staff from Halifax Regional Municipality, Critchley<br />

constructed an index of social vulnerability based primarily on Dr. Cutter’s hazard-of-place<br />

model.<br />

The index considers 12 criteria based on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and<br />

community emergency response services. The criteria are normalized based on scores amongst<br />

Census dissemination areas around the Halifax harbour that are at risk of being affected by<br />

storm surge. All criteria are assigned equal weight, and a composite index is formed. The<br />

products are the indices and maps showing the spatial distribution of social vulnerability, which<br />

create an accessible decision-making tool.<br />

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