Adapting to flooding in Georgetown : an investigation of climate change, sea level rise, state policy and community practices

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dc.contributor.authorLeung, Kira Lise
dc.contributor.departmentDepartment of Geomatics Engineering and Land Management, University of the West Indies
dc.date.accessioned2013-05-27T14:15:09Z
dc.date.available2013-05-27T14:15:09Z
dc.date.issued2010
dc.description.abstractClimate change is being accompanied by rising sea levels and shifts in precipitation patterns worldwide. This phenomenon is increasing the frequency and severity of flooding events in Georgetown, which is already vulnerable due to its low elevation and history of land reclamation. Moreover, adaptive capacity is low due to limited financial resources and poor governance. The realization of a suitable adaptation plan for Georgetown through a more geographically-specific understanding of vulnerability and adaptation options is therefore critical. Using case study wards differing by income level, land tenure, sewerage system, and garbage disposal method, the project examined how various wards were responding to the threat of flooding with the resources available to them. Sample wards were then used as an indication of how wards with similar characteristics are adapting. As flooding is imposed upon a largely pre-existent urban structure, all social classes and urban environments were found to be potentially vulnerable to the impacts of flood events. Nevertheless, household experiences of flooding and its impacts were shown to be influenced by household asset profiles (income), which were in turn, linked to location (i.e. urban or semi-urban) and dwelling construction style. Results suggest state intervention via enforcement of relevant building codes, drainage infrastructure maintenance, and secure housing programs, is likely to reduce Georgetown’s vulnerability to the threat of flooding. Increased public awareness and disaster preparedness also stands to boost adaptive capacity.en
dc.description.degreeMaster's degree
dc.formatTexten
dc.format.extent1 digital file (143 p. : ill.)en
dc.format.mimetypeApplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10625/51200
dc.identifier.urihttp://coastalchange.ca/download_files/community_documents/Kira%20Lise%20C-Change%20Georgetown%20Case%20Study.pdf
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherDepartment of Geomatics Engineering and Land Management, University of the West Indiesen
dc.subjectSEA LEVEL RISEen
dc.subjectCLIMATE CHANGEen
dc.subjectFLOODINGen
dc.subjectVULNERABILITY AND ADAPTATIONen
dc.subjectCOASTAL AREASen
dc.subjectSEA LEVELen
dc.subjectCLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATIONen
dc.subjectCARIBBEANen
dc.subjectDISASTER PREPAREDNESSen
dc.titleAdapting to flooding in Georgetown : an investigation of climate change, sea level rise, state policy and community practicesen
dc.typeThesisen
idrc.dspace.accessIDRC Onlyen
idrc.project.componentnumber104518004
idrc.project.number104518
idrc.project.titleInternational Community-University Research Alliance Program (ICURA)en
idrc.recordsserver.bcsnumberIC01-3485-52
idrc.rims.adhocgroupIDRC SUPPORTEDen

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IDRC Research Results / Résultats de recherches du CRDI
2010-2019 / Années 2010-2019
Managing Adaptation to Coastal Environmental Change / Gestion de l’adaptation aux changements environnementaux en milieu côtier