On the Science-Policy Bridge: Do Spatial Heat Vulnerability Assessment Studies Influence Policy?

Tanja Wolf, Wen-Ching Chuang and Glenn McGregor
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Tanja Wolf: Department of Geography, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
Wen-Ching Chuang: School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
Glenn McGregor: Department of Geography, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 10, 1-29

Abstract: Human vulnerability to heat varies at a range of spatial scales, especially within cities where there can be noticeable intra-urban differences in heat risk factors. Mapping and visualizing intra-urban heat vulnerability offers opportunities for presenting information to support decision-making. For example the visualization of the spatial variation of heat vulnerability has the potential to enable local governments to identify hot spots of vulnerability and allocate resources and increase assistance to people in areas of greatest need. Recently there has been a proliferation of heat vulnerability mapping studies, all of which, to varying degrees, justify the process of vulnerability mapping in a policy context. However, to date, there has not been a systematic review of the extent to which the results of vulnerability mapping studies have been applied in decision-making. Accordingly we undertook a comprehensive review of 37 recently published papers that use geospatial techniques for assessing human vulnerability to heat. In addition, we conducted an anonymous survey of the lead authors of the 37 papers in order to establish the level of interaction between the researchers as science information producers and local authorities as information users. Both paper review and author survey results show that heat vulnerability mapping has been used in an attempt to communicate policy recommendations, raise awareness and induce institutional networking and learning, but has not as yet had a substantive influence on policymaking or preventive action.

Keywords: heat stress; vulnerability; mapping; decision support; implementation; awareness; local authorities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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