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Mapping Social Vulnerability to Air Pollution: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta Region, China

Author

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  • Yi Ge

    (State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China)

  • Haibo Zhang

    (School of Government, Center for Risk, Disaster & Crisis Research, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China)

  • Wen Dou

    (School of Transportation, Southeast University, Nanjing 210018, China)

  • Wenfang Chen

    (State Key Laboratory of Severe Weather, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Science, Beijing 100081, China)

  • Ning Liu

    (School of Chemistry and Life Science, Jinling College, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China)

  • Yuan Wang

    (State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China)

  • Yulin Shi

    (State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China)

  • Wenxin Rao

    (State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China)

Abstract

Many frequent and severe air pollution incidents have emerged across the vast parts of China recently. The identification of factors and mapping social vulnerability has become extremely necessary for environmental management and sustainable development. However, studies associating social vulnerability with air pollution remain sparse. With reference to research achievements of social vulnerability, this study made a new trial regarding social vulnerability assessment to air pollution. With the projection pursuit cluster (PPC) model, the top three factors contributing to social vulnerability index (SVI) were discovered and SVI and SVI dimensions (susceptibility, exposure, and adaptability) were evaluated. Results revealed that adaptability values are higher than susceptibility and exposure values. SVI is in a poor condition as, for the whole region, most values belong to the high-medium level. High SVI values mainly appear in the northern and the southern ends of study area. SVI in Shanghai is lower than in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. On the scale of prefecture-level city, it can be found that the low-value centers of SVI always occurred in urban core areas. The spatial variation and inequality in social vulnerability provide policy-makers a scientific basis for air pollution prevention and sustainable management.

Suggested Citation

  • Yi Ge & Haibo Zhang & Wen Dou & Wenfang Chen & Ning Liu & Yuan Wang & Yulin Shi & Wenxin Rao, 2017. "Mapping Social Vulnerability to Air Pollution: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta Region, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-15, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:1:p:109-:d:87750
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Yi Ge & Wen Dou & Ning Liu, 2017. "Planning Resilient and Sustainable Cities: Identifying and Targeting Social Vulnerability to Climate Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-19, August.
    7. Yi Ge & Wen Dou & Jianping Dai, 2017. "A New Approach to Identify Social Vulnerability to Climate Change in the Yangtze River Delta," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-19, December.
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    9. Yi Ge & Wen Dou & Haibo Zhang, 2017. "A New Framework for Understanding Urban Social Vulnerability from a Network Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-16, September.

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