Climate change severely impacts on the natural and socio-economic systems of the Pacific Islands. Samoa, a small insular state of the region, is characterized by widespread awareness of climate change reflected by its leading international role. This also makes Samoa a potentially exemplary reference for the Pacific Islands. Against this backdrop, the overall aim of this article is to investigate the notion of social vulnerability and measure its dimensions in Samoa through a specific index: the Samoa Social Vulnerability Index (SSVI). The SSVI may yield better understanding of the characteristics and dynamics of social vulnerability, as well as information for fostering adaptation strategies in Samoa and in the Pacific Islands. In particular, the article first outlines the major vulnerabilities to climate change in Samoa and then analyses the composite notion of social vulnerability. On this basis, the article methodologically specifies, designs and constructs the SSVI. Afterwards, it uses such index for measuring the dimensions of social vulnerability in Samoa's districts. Finally, some considerations are made concerning the policy relevance of the SSVI and its potential regional role. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Grasso, M., Moneo, M., Arena, M. (2014). Assessing social vulnerability to climate change in Samoa. REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE, 14(4), 1329-1341 [10.1007/s10113-013-0570-z].

Assessing social vulnerability to climate change in Samoa

GRASSO, MARCO
;
2014

Abstract

Climate change severely impacts on the natural and socio-economic systems of the Pacific Islands. Samoa, a small insular state of the region, is characterized by widespread awareness of climate change reflected by its leading international role. This also makes Samoa a potentially exemplary reference for the Pacific Islands. Against this backdrop, the overall aim of this article is to investigate the notion of social vulnerability and measure its dimensions in Samoa through a specific index: the Samoa Social Vulnerability Index (SSVI). The SSVI may yield better understanding of the characteristics and dynamics of social vulnerability, as well as information for fostering adaptation strategies in Samoa and in the Pacific Islands. In particular, the article first outlines the major vulnerabilities to climate change in Samoa and then analyses the composite notion of social vulnerability. On this basis, the article methodologically specifies, designs and constructs the SSVI. Afterwards, it uses such index for measuring the dimensions of social vulnerability in Samoa's districts. Finally, some considerations are made concerning the policy relevance of the SSVI and its potential regional role. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Adaptation, climate change, Pacific Islands, social vulnerability, social vulnerability index
English
29-dic-2013
2014
14
4
1329
1341
none
Grasso, M., Moneo, M., Arena, M. (2014). Assessing social vulnerability to climate change in Samoa. REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE, 14(4), 1329-1341 [10.1007/s10113-013-0570-z].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/48832
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