Social Vulnerability Indices and a Sub-municipal Index for Sweden
(2018) VBRM15 20181Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
- Abstract
- The goal of risk and vulnerability research is to reduce the harm done by disasters. A disaster is a combination of a natural hazard and a vulnerable society. Understanding vulnerability is vital to reduce disaster risk, or the potential of losses in property or life. Vulnerability is often divided into a technical, relating to buildings, infrastructure, and so forth, and a social which concerns the way different groups in society differ in their ability to mitigate, prepare, respond and rebuild in the wake of a disaster.
By exploring census data, an idea of where these vulnerable groups are located can be created and used to help them overcome barriers that prevent their preparedness. After an analysis of nineteen international studies... (More) - The goal of risk and vulnerability research is to reduce the harm done by disasters. A disaster is a combination of a natural hazard and a vulnerable society. Understanding vulnerability is vital to reduce disaster risk, or the potential of losses in property or life. Vulnerability is often divided into a technical, relating to buildings, infrastructure, and so forth, and a social which concerns the way different groups in society differ in their ability to mitigate, prepare, respond and rebuild in the wake of a disaster.
By exploring census data, an idea of where these vulnerable groups are located can be created and used to help them overcome barriers that prevent their preparedness. After an analysis of nineteen international studies focused on social vulnerability indices, a suggestion for a Swedish index is proposed. This Swedish index highlights thirteen indicators and seventeen variables that could be used to measure vulnerability in Sweden. National data sources for fifteen of the variables have been found and is presented. This index could be used to influence decision-making before a crisis by identifying those in need of additional assistance during the preparation and response phase of a disaster. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- The potential risk for loss of property or life connected to disasters is growing daily, as confirmed consistently from reports of increased frequency as well as severity of disasters. Adding to this, predictions from the academic community show that global climate change will amplify disasters at every level of society, including the individual or household level. From sad experience, it has been found that disasters of equal severity have very varying impact on the exposed population depending on their biophysical vulnerabilities, but also the often-neglected aspect of social vulnerability. If this aspect could be measured and monitored, governments could use their available resources more effectively to reduce the harm done by disasters... (More)
- The potential risk for loss of property or life connected to disasters is growing daily, as confirmed consistently from reports of increased frequency as well as severity of disasters. Adding to this, predictions from the academic community show that global climate change will amplify disasters at every level of society, including the individual or household level. From sad experience, it has been found that disasters of equal severity have very varying impact on the exposed population depending on their biophysical vulnerabilities, but also the often-neglected aspect of social vulnerability. If this aspect could be measured and monitored, governments could use their available resources more effectively to reduce the harm done by disasters and, in turn, increase safety for the most vulnerable segments of the population.
Drawing on experiences gathered by other social vulnerability studies from across the globe and an exploration of available index data in Sweden, this research develops a sub-municipal index for usage in Sweden. This Swedish index highlights the indicators of age, population change and density, inclusion, social security, household finance, level of education, public advisories, language skills, small companies, unemployment, disability and mobility as especially relevant for measuring social vulnerability. These variables are frequently found in studies from around the globe, however an accommodation process to the Swedish setting was needed and conducted.
Measuring social vulnerability and adding this aspect to the existing efforts to reduce population disaster risk and vulnerabilities already made on municipal, county and national level, would increase information available to decision makers. In turn, this has the potential to improve their ability to focus mitigation and preparedness efforts on the most vulnerable households and areas. Additionally, the Swedish index can facilitate more well-informed response activities by providing readily available data and mapping of where the most vulnerable are located. These efforts, from mitigation through to response, cumulatively contribute to making society a safer place. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8971220
- author
- Wagner, Tobias LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- VBRM15 20181
- year
- 2018
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Disaster risk reduction, preparedness, preparedness planning, disaster preparedness, vulnerability, social vulnerability, social vulnerability index, social vulnerability indicator, Sweden
- language
- English
- id
- 8971220
- date added to LUP
- 2019-02-15 10:33:35
- date last changed
- 2019-02-15 10:33:35
@misc{8971220,
abstract = {{The goal of risk and vulnerability research is to reduce the harm done by disasters. A disaster is a combination of a natural hazard and a vulnerable society. Understanding vulnerability is vital to reduce disaster risk, or the potential of losses in property or life. Vulnerability is often divided into a technical, relating to buildings, infrastructure, and so forth, and a social which concerns the way different groups in society differ in their ability to mitigate, prepare, respond and rebuild in the wake of a disaster.
By exploring census data, an idea of where these vulnerable groups are located can be created and used to help them overcome barriers that prevent their preparedness. After an analysis of nineteen international studies focused on social vulnerability indices, a suggestion for a Swedish index is proposed. This Swedish index highlights thirteen indicators and seventeen variables that could be used to measure vulnerability in Sweden. National data sources for fifteen of the variables have been found and is presented. This index could be used to influence decision-making before a crisis by identifying those in need of additional assistance during the preparation and response phase of a disaster.}},
author = {{Wagner, Tobias}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Social Vulnerability Indices and a Sub-municipal Index for Sweden}},
year = {{2018}},
}