Extreme weather should be defined according to impacts on climate-vulnerable communities

Samantha C. Winter (), Mark R. Winter, LaNae Plaxico, Anna K. Balakrishnan, Millicent Dzombo, Loni Philip Tabb, Ebuka Ukoh, Chloe Lincoln, Lena Moraa Obara, Stephanie Achieng Otieno, Richard Muita and Susan S. Witte
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Samantha C. Winter: Columbia University
Mark R. Winter: Drexel University
LaNae Plaxico: Columbia University
Anna K. Balakrishnan: Columbia University
Millicent Dzombo: Drexel University
Loni Philip Tabb: Columbia Global Center
Ebuka Ukoh: Columbia University
Chloe Lincoln: Columbia University
Lena Moraa Obara: Rutgers University
Stephanie Achieng Otieno: Drexel University
Richard Muita: Kenya Meteorological Dept
Susan S. Witte: Columbia University

Nature Climate Change, 2024, vol. 14, issue 5, 462-467

Abstract: Abstract Climate change and related extreme weather events (EWEs) are expected to widen social and health inequalities. Yet, EWE thresholds and associated adaptation strategies do not centre experiences of vulnerable communities. This study explored the impacts of temperature- and precipitation-based EWEs for women in informal settlements, whether meteorological definitions of these EWEs capture impacts and whether self-reported impacts can be used to develop impact-based thresholds. We combined meteorological data with longitudinal monthly survey data collected from September 2022 through February 2023 from a probability sample of 800 women in two informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. Findings suggest that women experience health, economic, environmental, emotional, social and property impacts; thresholds of EWEs currently used for early action and preparedness are not capturing impacts; and, while self-reported impact data may provide an excellent first step in the process of (re)defining thresholds for some EWEs (for example, precipitation-based), more research and discussions with communities are needed.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-01983-7

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