Social Vulnerability Evaluation of Natural Disasters and Its Spatiotemporal Evolution in Zhejiang Province, China

Feifeng Cao, Huangyuan Wang, Conglin Zhang () and Weibo Kong
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Feifeng Cao: College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Huangyuan Wang: College of Civil Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Conglin Zhang: Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
Weibo Kong: Zhejiang Yong Bang Emergency Technology Co., Ltd., Hangzhou 310030, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: Natural disasters present a significant challenge to the productivity of Zhejiang Province. This paper is the first to evaluate social vulnerability to natural disasters in Zhejiang Province and provides a scientific foundation for disaster prevention, mitigation, and risk management. In this paper, we construct an indicator system for evaluating social vulnerability of natural disasters in Zhejiang Province through demand analysis, frequency analysis, and applicability analysis. The methodology employed in this paper reduces errors arising from subjective indicator selection and provides a reference for future international research on evaluating social vulnerability to natural disasters. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal evolution of social vulnerability to natural disasters in 11 cities from 2011 to 2020. The results indicate an overall downward trend of social vulnerability to natural disasters in Zhejiang. Social vulnerability to natural disasters exhibits significant spatial variability. The evaluation can help to bridge the knowledge gap regarding the social vulnerability of Zhejiang Province to natural disasters. The analysis of the spatiotemporal evolution of social vulnerability provides insights into the contributing factors to vulnerability and the effectiveness of past disaster management strategies. The findings of this study can serve as a valuable reference for future research in Zhejiang Province and other regions facing similar challenges. The results can contribute to the advancement of comprehensive knowledge of social vulnerability to natural disasters, which can inform the development of policies and strategies aimed at mitigating disaster risk and promoting effective disaster management globally.

Keywords: natural disaster; social vulnerability; evaluation; indicator system; spatiotemporal evolution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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