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

Author

Listed:
  • Gustavo J. Nagy

    (Instituto de Ecología y Ciencias Ambientales (IECA), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay)

  • Walter Leal Filho

    (School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK
    Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management (FTZ-NK), Research and Transfer Centre (FTZ-NK), Faculty of Life Science, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW), Ulmenliet 20, D-21033 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Ulisses M. Azeiteiro

    (Department of Biology & CESAM Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal)

  • Johanna Heimfarth

    (Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management (FTZ-NK), Research and Transfer Centre (FTZ-NK), Faculty of Life Science, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW), Ulmenliet 20, D-21033 Hamburg, Germany)

  • José E. Verocai

    (Instituto de Ecología y Ciencias Ambientales (IECA), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay)

  • Chunlan Li

    (Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management (FTZ-NK), Research and Transfer Centre (FTZ-NK), Faculty of Life Science, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW), Ulmenliet 20, D-21033 Hamburg, Germany
    Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Gustavo J. Nagy & Walter Leal Filho & Ulisses M. Azeiteiro & Johanna Heimfarth & José E. Verocai & Chunlan Li, 2018. "An Assessment of the Relationships between Extreme Weather Events, Vulnerability, and the Impacts on Human Wellbeing in Latin America," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-25, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:9:p:1802-:d:164979
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nicola Banwell & Shannon Rutherford & Brendan Mackey & Cordia Chu, 2018. "Towards Improved Linkage of Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in Health: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Walter Leal Filho & Francine Modesto & Gustavo J. Nagy & Mustafa Saroar & Nsani YannickToamukum & Michael Ha’apio, 2018. "Fostering coastal resilience to climate change vulnerability in Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon and Uruguay: a cross-country comparison," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 579-602, April.
    3. Adrian Garlati, 2013. "Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events in Latin America: An Exposure Index," Research Department Publications 4821, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department.
    4. Walter Leal Filho & Leyre Echevarria Icaza & Victoria Omeche Emanche & Abul Quasem Al-Amin, 2017. "An Evidence-Based Review of Impacts, Strategies and Tools to Mitigate Urban Heat Islands," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-29, December.
    5. Walter Leal Filho & Abul Quasem Al-Amin & Gustavo J. Nagy & Ulisses M. Azeiteiro & Laura Wiesböck & Desalegn Y. Ayal & Edward A. Morgan & Paschal Mugabe & Marilyn Aparicio-Effen & Hubert Fudjumdjum & , 2018. "A Comparative Analysis of Climate-Risk and Extreme Event-Related Impacts on Well-Being and Health: Policy Implications," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, February.
    6. repec:idb:brikps:79118 is not listed on IDEAS
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