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Cultural knowledge and local vulnerability in African American communities

Author

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  • Christine D. Miller Hesed

    (University of Maryland, 1111 Woods Hall College Park, Maryland 20742, USA)

  • Michael Paolisso

    (University of Maryland, 1111 Woods Hall College Park, Maryland 20742, USA)

Abstract

Policymakers need to know what factors are most important in determining local vulnerability to facilitate effective adaptation to climate change. Quantitative vulnerability indices are helpful in this endeavour but are limited in their ability to capture subtle yet important aspects of vulnerability such as social networks, knowledge and access to resources. Working with three African American communities on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, we systematically elicit local cultural knowledge on climate change and connect it with a scientific vulnerability framework. The results of this study show that: a given social–ecological factor can substantially differ in the way in which it affects local vulnerability, even among communities with similar demographics and climate-related risks; and social and political isolation inhibits access to sources of adaptive capacity, thereby exacerbating local vulnerability. These results show that employing methods for analysing cultural knowledge can yield new insights to complement those generated by quantitative vulnerability indices.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine D. Miller Hesed & Michael Paolisso, 2015. "Cultural knowledge and local vulnerability in African American communities," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 5(7), pages 683-687, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:5:y:2015:i:7:d:10.1038_nclimate2668
    DOI: 10.1038/nclimate2668
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Christine D. Miller Hesed & Elizabeth R. Van Dolah & Michael Paolisso, 2020. "Engaging faith-based communities for rural coastal resilience: lessons from collaborative learning on the Chesapeake Bay," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 159(1), pages 37-57, March.
    2. Sierra Woodruff & Todd K. BenDor & Aaron L. Strong, 2018. "Fighting the inevitable: infrastructure investment and coastal community adaptation to sea level rise," System Dynamics Review, System Dynamics Society, vol. 34(1-2), pages 48-77, January.
    3. Yusuke Toyoda, 2021. "Survey paper: achievements and perspectives of community resilience approaches to societal systems," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 5(3), pages 705-756, October.
    4. Jonathon P. Schuldt & Adam R. Pearson, 2023. "Public recognition of climate change inequities within the United States," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 176(8), pages 1-14, August.
    5. Christine D. Miller Hesed & David M. Ostergren, 2017. "Promoting climate justice in high-income countries: lessons from African American communities on the Chesapeake Bay," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 143(1), pages 185-200, July.

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