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Climate-Related Hazards and Human Health: Mortality, Psychosocial Aspects, and Mitigation Policies

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Health, Well-Being and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2022) | Viewed by 15403

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Michalis Diakakis

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Guest Editor

Department of Dynamic Tectonic and Applied Geology, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli Zografou, Athens, Greece
Interests: extreme events; flash flooding; flood mortality; risk perception; hydrogeomorphological disasters; landslides
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hydro-geomorphological events and other climate-related disasters, including flash floods and mass movement phenomena and wildfires, are some of the most destructive and lethal types of natural hazards. Especially in a changing climate, hydro-geomorphological disasters are expected to increase in frequency and severity and become a key issue threatening sustainable development and sustainability.

Disasters impact individuals, families, and communities, not only in terms of effects in socioeconomic activities and damage on property and infrastructure, but also socially and in terms of human health. Increased physical and psychological morbidity could be an important obstacle in the sustainable development of a society. Understanding vulnerability of individuals and communities to these disasters through behavioral, perceptional, and mortality studies can be an important step in identifying and adopting policies and programs that can mitigate risk.

This Special Issue of Sustainability encourages high-quality research papers in the following topics:

Mortality studies on floods, debris flows, landslides, wildfires, and other hydro-geomorphological and climate-related disasters, including multiple country studies;
Studies of short- and long-term health outcomes of hydro-geomorphological and climate-related disasters;
Studies in the spectrum of human behavior in the face of such disasters;
Climate change perception and perception of hydro-geomorphological and climate-related risks at both the layman and expert level;
Other psychosocial effects of climate-related disasters on the individual or the community;
Effective policies, strategies, and initiatives to reduce and prevent morbidity and mortality related to hydro-geomorphological disasters.

The purpose of the Special Issue is to collect research works that improve our understanding on how people lose their lives from climate-related disasters, how dangerous situations develop, how the society and expert community perceives risks, and what solutions/policies/initiatives are effective.

Within this aim, interdisciplinary original research articles highlighting new ideas, review articles, study approaches, and innovations are welcomed.

Dr. Michalis Diakakis
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

climate-related mortality
behavior
risk perception
policies
floods
landslides
debris flows
wildfires

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 851 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climatic Hazards and the Associated Impacts on Households’ Willingness to Adopt Water-Saving Measures: Evidence from Mexico

by Mina Khodadad, Mohsen Sanei, Christian Narvaez-Montoya and Ismael Aguilar-Barajas

Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5817; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14105817 - 11 May 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1638

Abstract

Numerous regions across the globe are facing water shortage challenges, and domestic water demands are predicted to grow vastly by 2050. In this regard, household water-saving measures are critical to adapt to future risks. Few studies have evaluated the association between climate change-related threats and their impacts on water-saving activities and intentions. However, a limitation in this line of research is the assumption that only the hazards that directly affect water shortages, such as drought, can influence water conservation behaviors. Our study takes a step forward to examine the possible association between other types of extreme climate events (in addition to drought) and household water-saving behavioral willingness. Mexico is used as a case study. The information from the most recent versions of two Mexican national surveys is employed. The potential roles of three demographic characteristics (age, gender, and education) are also investigated. We found that recent experience of harsh climatic events positively affects willingness to adopt water-saving measures (although this is a small effect). The results validate the significance of experiential knowledge as a driver to increase the willingness to act responsibly regarding water challenges. The lessons we derive are of significance for Mexico and other settings facing water crises and natural hazards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate-Related Hazards and Human Health: Mortality, Psychosocial Aspects, and Mitigation Policies)

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29 pages, 7433 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of an Early Warning and Incident Response System for the Protection of Visitors from Natural Hazards in Important Outdoor Sites in Greece

by Chrysostomos Psaroudakis, Gavriil Xanthopoulos, Dimitris Stavrakoudis, Antonios Barnias, Vassiliki Varela, Ilias Gkotsis, Anna Karvouniari, Spyridon Agorgianitis, Ioannis Chasiotis, Diamando Vlachogiannis, Athanasios Sfetsos, Konstantinos Kaoukis, Aikaterini Christopoulou, Petros Antakis and Ioannis Z. Gitas

Sustainability 2021, 13(9), 5143; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095143 - 4 May 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2823

Abstract

Safety in touristic destinations is of utmost importance since tourists’ preferences change frequently in response to emerging threats. Natural hazards are a significant risk and, as such, they need to be considered in the effort for safe tourism. Services and systems monitoring and predicting extreme natural phenomena and disasters in sites of special tourist and cultural interest can lead to more effective risk management and incident response. This paper presents Xenios, a system under development in Greece that provides early warning and risk communication services via web-based and mobile phone applications. We present the user requirements analysis contacted, which led to the design of a modular system architecture through a formal Business Process Model procedure. Currently, early warning systems for wildfire, floods, and extreme weather events are offered, based on a fusion of information from satellite imagery, meteorological forecasts, and risk estimation models. Moreover, visitors’ dispersion monitoring via unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Wi-Fi connection signals is also offered, along with emergency response planning and ticketing system’s interfacing. The system is built around a modular architecture that permits the easy integration of new subsystems or other danger forecasting modules, depending on the site’s actual needs and limitations. Xenios also provides a mobile app for site visitors, which establishes a communication link for sending alarms, but also serves them with useful tourist information, so that they are encouraged to download and use the app. Finally, the opportunities for supporting a viable business model are also discussed. The results of this study could prove useful in designing other natural risk management systems for sites of cultural and natural interest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate-Related Hazards and Human Health: Mortality, Psychosocial Aspects, and Mitigation Policies)

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14 pages, 933 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Water Depth Perception in Shaping Car Drivers’ Intention to Enter Floodwaters: Experimental Evidence

by Katerina Papagiannaki, Michalis Diakakis, Vassiliki Kotroni, Kostas Lagouvardos and Giorgos Papagiannakis

Sustainability 2021, 13(8), 4451; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084451 - 16 Apr 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1710

Abstract

Floods are one of the most lethal natural hazards. Recent studies show that in a large percentage of flood-related fatalities, victims engage in risk-taking behavior by getting deliberately in contact with floodwaters. This study integrates behavioral psychology and situational environmental factors with the aim to examine why individuals undertake such risky behavior. In particular, we draw on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to link water depth perception with the intention of car drivers to enter floodwaters. The hypotheses on which the study was based were that the depth of the water adversely affects the driver’s intention to enter floodwaters, and that this effect is mediated by a behavior-favorable attitude, a behavior-favorable subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. Further, to understand the conditions under which this process works, the moderating role of past behavior in the above relationships is also examined. Results from an experimental study (n = 1940) show that water depth perception affects intention. Attitude, perceived behavioral control, and normative beliefs operate as the underlying psychological mechanism that leads to the mitigation of intention in higher water depth situations. Interestingly, past risk-taking behavior is found to be a significant condition under which this process works, by mostly affecting individuals’ attitudes. Mediation and moderated mediation analyses were conducted to estimate causal relationships. The findings provide evidence of the significant interaction that environmental, psychological, and precedent behavioral factors have on behavioral intentions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate-Related Hazards and Human Health: Mortality, Psychosocial Aspects, and Mitigation Policies)

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12 pages, 932 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Revealing an Integrative Mechanism of Cognition, Emotion, and Heat-Protective Action of Older Adults

by Hee Jin Yang and Heeyeun Yoon

Sustainability 2021, 13(6), 3534; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063534 - 22 Mar 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1924

Abstract

This study aims to provide an in-depth understanding of what motivates older adults to take their adaptive behaviors during extreme heat events. Elaborating the mediating role of emotion in human behaviors, we empirically explore an interrelationship between individuals’ cognition, emotion, and heat-protective action in response to heat warning system alarms. Through face-to-face surveys and structural equation modeling, this study reveals that an increased level of cognition about climate change, heat waves, and local policy measures leads to emotional responses such as concern and worry, and consequently encourages people to comply with heat-related public guidelines. Furthermore, we also consider individuals’ pre-existing health conditions and their previous experiences of heat-related illnesses together with the emotional factors. The role of emotion in mediating between cognition and heat-protective action is much greater than in mediating between pre-existing health conditions and heat-protective action. We conclude that policy interventions to educate older adults can effectively increase the likelihood of individual compliance with the relevant preventive measures beyond their individual health and experiences. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate-Related Hazards and Human Health: Mortality, Psychosocial Aspects, and Mitigation Policies)

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20 pages, 1588 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identification of Patterns and Influential Factors on Civil Protection Personnel Opinions and Views on Different Aspects of Flood Risk Management: The Case of Greece

by Michalis Diakakis, Dimitris G. Damigos and Andreas Kallioras

Sustainability 2020, 12(14), 5585; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12145585 - 11 Jul 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3010

Abstract

The views and perceptions of the civil protection community have a central position in any risk management process or initiative, and are crucial to its success. However, knowledge of the views and perceptions of officials, and what affects them remains limited in the current literature. This work uses questionnaires to explore the views of civil protection personnel in Greece on different elements of flood risk management and identify factors that influence them. Results provide a basic understanding of officials’ views, indicating certain shortcomings in various sectors and dissatisfaction in several aspects of everyday practice. Interestingly, responses of participants to perception- and knowledge-related questions show a pattern, relating to respondents’ attributes and characteristics, such as experience, age, qualifications, and others. On the contrary, their views on everyday practice issues of flood risk management are associated with the type of position they have in the civil protection community. The findings contribute to the overall effort to improve the understanding of the characteristics of civil protection organizations across Europe, as a means to enhance cooperation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate-Related Hazards and Human Health: Mortality, Psychosocial Aspects, and Mitigation Policies)

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17 pages, 1022 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Types of Behavior of Flood Victims around Floodwaters. Correlation with Situational and Demographic Factors

by Michalis Diakakis

Sustainability 2020, 12(11), 4409; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114409 - 28 May 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3483

Abstract

Recently, human behavior around floodwaters has been acknowledged as one of the factors that influence the risk of fatal incidents. The present study analyzes the behavior of flood victims by developing a systematic classification of their actions at the time of the flood. Based on this taxonomy, the study examines a flood fatality database for Greece (1960–2019) to quantify the different types of behavior and to examine potential correlations with various demographical and situational factors. Results show that three-quarters of the victims exhibit a risk-taking behavior by deliberately coming in contact with floodwaters. Statistically significant associations were found between behavior and the demographics of the victims, the type surrounding environment, and the use of vehicles, indicating that certain situations and certain individuals are more prone to risk-taking behaviors than others. A statistical model shows that the behavior of a flood victim can be predicted with high accuracy by knowing certain variables of a fatal incident. The prevalence of risk-taking actions identified is a strong indication that human behavior is a crucial factor in flood mortality. The present study shows that a systematic classification of behaviors can help future interventions by highlighting the most common mechanisms of fatal incidents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate-Related Hazards and Human Health: Mortality, Psychosocial Aspects, and Mitigation Policies)

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