Project Title: Public and stakeholder responses to the risks of future sea level rise in the Severn Estuary
Project Description:
Background
As the impacts of climate change begin to be felt in the UK and throughout the world a critical issue will be the response of affected communities and sectors to increasing levels of risk. A significant proportion of the world’s populations currently live in the coastal zone and important sectors (e.g., tourism, energy, shipping) are dependent on coastal areas, making adaptation and protection from sea level risk and extreme weather a vital human and financial issue. Transforming the coastal zone will require both physical protection and planning, but also a level of understanding and engagement by affected populations and organisations. Research in the past, however, has indicated that most individuals view climate change as a distant problem affecting other people or future generations1, suggesting that community engagement will not prove a simple matter. Industry and other stakeholder responses to climate change risk have also tended to be limited, and can vary by sector and organisation2. Accordingly adaptation policies and proposals may fail or be the object of significant controversy without appropriate understanding, deliberation and ‘buy in’ from those who will be affected by any changes to the coastal zone.
Within the Severn Estuary area a number of communities and sectors will face increasing climate related risks during the next 90 years, from the combined impacts of sea level rise and the more extreme weather projected for the South Western region of Great Britain. The more pessimistic climate projections additionally suggest that vulnerability might extend to aspects of major infrastructure, industry and some larger coastal populations. At present we have very little information on the responses of vulnerable communities and sectors to rising sea level risk, and addressing this knowledge gap is the main priority of this project.
Objectives
Building on previous work, the project will:
1. Identify key sectors and communities at risk from sea level rise and extreme weather over a range of climate change scenarios within the Estuary region;
2. Conduct a study of stakeholder and public perceptions of risk amongst those most vulnerable to sea level risk and extreme weather in the Estuary;
3. Develop a mixed-method deliberative exercise to explore the concerns, priorities and potential responses of vulnerable groups to sea level risks and adaptation options;
4. Develop guidelines for stakeholder engagement and risk communications in the Estuary.
The results of this project will provide a baseline understanding of stakeholder and public perceptions of sea level rise and related climate risks amongst vulnerable communities and sectors, as well as an indication of the potential impacts upon people of information and deliberation about sea level rise. Its findings and methodology will be applicable to other vulnerable coastal areas across the UK and Europe, but have particular relevance to national adaptation policies and risk assessments in Wales, England and North Western Continental Europe.
Work Programme
The Programme of Work is inherently inter-disciplinary combining aspects of climate (risk) assessment with social science methodologies for establishing public knowledge and attitudes.
Background literature reviews will be used to derive basic risk assessments of key sectors and communities. Surveys and group-based deliberative techniques will then be deployed to investigate stakeholder and public views. The work is genuinely inter-disciplinary, linking two Schools and three supervisors with complementary inter ests.
Supervisors, track record, and supervision strategy
The work stems directly from the previous, successful track record of the supervisors. Dr Ballinger is currently researching climate change adaptation in the Severn and across North West Europe (a major EU INTERREG IV project) while Professor Pidgeon and Dr Whitmarsh both have extensive prior experience of societal responses to climate change risk and mixed-method deliberative research. To improve interdisciplinary and professional skills, the PhD will be expected to present research findings at seminar series in both Schools and at international science conferences, such as of the Society for Risk Analysis, and will utilise the Research Students’ Skills Development Programme of the University. The PhD will be affiliated to the Climate Change Consortium of Wales and will collaborate with policy-makers involved in flood protection in the Severn Estuary.
Supervisors: Dr Lorraine Whitmarsh (PSYCH), Dr Rhoda Ballinger (EARTH) and Professor Nick Pidgeon
(PSYCH)
Start Date: 1st October 2011
This award will cover UK/EU Fees plus a Stipend matching the UK Research Council minimum (£13,290 for 2009/10)
Residency: This award is available to all UK and EU students.
Academic Criteria: First Class Honours degree or a 2.1 plus a postgraduate Masters degree at Distinction level (or their equivalents)
Details on how to apply can be found at: http://courses.cardiff.ac.uk/funding/R572.html
Closing date is 28th January
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