Urban Transitions toward Risk Resilience: Sustainable Solutions for Social and Ecological Wellbeing

Authors

Meenakshi Jerath, Department of Earth and Environment, Florida International University

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Major/Program

Earth Systems Science

First Advisor's Name

Dr. Mahadev G. Bhat

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee chair

Second Advisor's Name

Jayantha T. Obeysekera

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Third Advisor's Name

Michael C. Sukop

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Fourth Advisor's Name

Tiffany Troxler

Fourth Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Keywords

Risk, Urban resilience, Nature-based solutions, Human wellbeing, Social Benefit-Cost Analysis, Climate adaptation, Subjective wellbeing

Date of Defense

11-9-2022

Abstract

Disaster and climate change-related risks present the most pressing threat to both humanity and nature, endangering sustainability goals and planetary boundaries. This dissertation examines the influence of disaster risk on people’s wellbeing and the concomitant challenges of adopting nature-based approaches for risk reduction and ecological resilience in two global urban areas in the Americas, Lima, Peru, and South Florida, USA. In peri-urban Lima, I evaluate an ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR) measure in a marginalized community where I conduct household surveys and key informant interviews. I design a risk-based benefit-cost analysis (BCA) including primary DRR benefits, and place-based economic and non-market co-benefits representing stakeholder values. The equity-weighted BCA using Monte Carlo simulations indicated Eco-DRR unviability considering DRR benefits with a Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) of 0.06 ± 0.08. BCR estimates increased to 1.18 ± 0.42 with incremental integration of tangible property rights co-benefits, and to 1.70 ± 0.59 with addition of WTP representing non-market co-benefits. A sustainability lens revealed holistic Eco-DRR outcomes including access to public green spaces, social inclusion, stronger resource governance, and health and wellbeing benefits, highlighting pathways for adaptive governance. Next, in coastal subtropical South Florida, where dangerously high levels of heat index (103°–124°F) already make up more than 20% of summer days and nighttime temperatures, I compare the influence of differential heat stress impacts on the subjective wellbeing of a general residents’ sample (n = 589) with a migrant farmworker group (n = 141). The median annual loss from heat-impaired productivity was 1.7% and 5.7% of general residents’ and farmworkers’ median annual income, respectively. Heat stress impacts on daily life and health outcomes lowered overall life satisfaction for both general residents and farmworkers, respectively. Lastly, survey results suggest heat stress impacts, life satisfaction, and community involvement influence 57.8% South Florida respondents’ willingness-to-pay 0.2% ($122.41) of their annual household income as tax to support nature- and community-based heat adaptation strategies. Besides an insight into wellbeing impacts of disaster risk, this study provides evidence of economic viability, equity impacts, and sustainability outcomes of nature-based solutions that deliver social-ecological wellbeing while addressing risk management and sustainability goals.

Identifier

FIDC010880

ORCID

0000-0002-4711-1571

Recommended Citation

Jerath, Meenakshi, "Urban Transitions toward Risk Resilience: Sustainable Solutions for Social and Ecological Wellbeing" (2022). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 5193.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/5193