Steve Whittaker
Postdoctoral Associate
Jackson Institute for Global Affairs
Michelle L. Bell Research Lab
Yale University
Globally, climate change (CC) has emerged as potentially THE GREATEST existential threat to our environment and collective health. While accounting for less than 1% of the world’s GHG emissions, few regions have experienced the effects of CC more than the Caribbean. Faced with elevated risks of increasingly intense storms, higher incidence of vector-borne diseases, more prolonged droughts and less food security, the places and peoples of the Caribbean are charged with building resilience. This charge is often unjust given (a) the absence of resources from the more developed nations whose individuals and industries have higher carbon footprints and (b) lack of support from local governments. My colleagues and I attempt to qualitatively and quantitatively assess vulnerability and/or adaptive capacity of Eastern Caribbean residents as they engage new extremes and prepare for the unprecedented. Weighing the factors of knowledge and behavior against circumstance, this research breaks down how much predispositions to CC impacts are within the control of regular citizens, what agency they have if any.
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Type of work: Abstract
As such, this study aimed to evaluate adaptive capacities of residents in the EC nation of St. Kitts and Nevis (SKN). Approximately 228 residents were surveyed between 2016 and 2018 about perceived CC effects, vulnerabilities, morbidities and management activities against key demographic information. Disease odds risks were estimated using logistic regression. Responses were converted to points (negative or positive) before being summed and categorized into percentage Adaptive Capacity Scores (ACS) of circumstance, knowledge and behavior. Each categorical score was then assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Almost 60% perceived hotter days while 1 in 4 reported increased vector-borne disease rates in their community. Most residents (65%) occupied homes sited close to higher risk areas: coastline, ghauts or base of a steep incline. Proximity to low-lying zones was associated with higher risk of poor mental health (OR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.05, 3.47; p = 0.035). Reduced time outdoors was linked to elevated risk of zika infection (OR: 3.42; 95% CI: 1.36, 8.62; p = 0.009). Average knowledge, circumstance, behavior and total ACS were 57.97% (σ=27.48), 11.71% (σ=17.33), 44.5% (σ=24.97) and 32% (σ = 16.03) respectively. Age (p<0.0001) and education level (p<0.001) impacted some scores.
Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change in an Eastern Caribbean Country
Work Areas:
Climate change,
Climate justice,
Community-based research,
Disaster and recovery,
Distribution of environmental hazards,
Local or traditional knowledgeWork File:
whittaker_steve_yale_natasha_conference_20191115b.pdf
