Flood preparedness in Bangladesh requires targeted campaigns for vulnerable groups
A study in Frontiers in Climate examines flood preparedness in the flood-prone Islampur Union of Bangladesh’s Sunamganj District using an index-based Holistic Individual Preparedness Model (HIPM).
Drawing on data from 510 survey respondents and employing 21 indicators, the research evaluates preparedness and its influencing factors. Findings reveal that 91% of respondents feel insecure during floods, with 86% reporting housing damage.
Alarmingly, 54% show limited knowledge of flood preparedness, and 84% avoid flood shelters. Sociodemographic factors like gender, housing type, and income correlate strongly with preparedness, with women and residents in unsafe homes being particularly at risk.
The study highlights the urgent need for education campaigns to bridge knowledge gaps and improve flood response among vulnerable groups.
Journal Reference:
Rahman MM, Islam MR, Shobuj IA, Hossain MT, Ahsan MN, Alam E, Al Hattawi KS and Islam MK, ‘An index-based holistic approach to evaluate flood preparedness: evidence from Bangladesh’, Frontiers in Climate 6:1479495 (2024). DOI: 10.3389/fclim.2024.1479495
Article Source: Frontiers in Climate
Grain size of Quaternary sediments reveals climate history in the South China Sea
Research published in Frontiers in Marine Science analyzes sediment grain size from the northwestern Qiongdongnan Basin, shedding light on hydrodynamic conditions and monsoon intensity during the Quaternary period.
Utilizing 49 sediment samples, researchers identify key components reflective of sea-level changes and climatic variations. Grain size data indicate a strengthening of the East Asian winter monsoon since 1.3 million years ago, peaking around 0.8 million years ago.
Enhanced hydrodynamic activity during low sea-level stages correlates with a rise in coarse sediment components.
This study demonstrates the utility of sediment grain size as a proxy for historical environmental conditions and monsoon dynamics in the region.
Journal Reference:
Ge J, Li Q, Zhao X, Pang W, Fan Q, Cheng X and Zhang X, ‘Grain size of Quaternary sediments in the continental shelf-margin: implications for paleo-environment in the Northwestern South China Sea’, Frontiers in Marine Science 11:1489786 (2024). DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1489786
Article Source: Frontiers in Marine Science
Green spaces in Saudi cities offer pathways to sustainability
A study featured in Frontiers in Sustainable Cities highlights the pivotal role of urban green spaces in enhancing quality of life in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Based on surveys from five parks and responses from 409 park visitors, the research finds that green spaces promote mental and physical health, social interaction, and stress reduction. However, per capita green space availability in Saudi cities falls below WHO standards, underscoring the need for increased investment in urban greenery.
Strategic initiatives like the Saudi Green Initiative are addressing gaps, promoting water-efficient landscaping and resilient green infrastructure to adapt to arid conditions. These efforts align with global sustainability goals, emphasizing the importance of green spaces in mitigating urban environmental challenges.
Journal Reference:
Mostafa AM, Alshahrani A, ‘Humanizing sustainable development through green spaces: a case study of Saudi cities’, Frontiers in Sustainable Cities 6:1416983 (2024). DOI: 10.3389/frsc.2024.1416983
Article Source: Frontiers in Sustainable Cities
Indigenous knowledge critical for decolonizing climate change responses in Africa
An article in Frontiers in Sociology argues for integrating African Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIKs) into climate change strategies.
Using Transformative Learning Theory and Ubuntu philosophy, the study critiques the dominance of scientism in climate discourse, which sidelines local knowledge crucial for adaptive capacity. AIKs, conceptualized as “exemplary ethical communities,” offer insights into ethical, inclusive, and sustainable climate responses.
The study proposes incorporating these systems into educational and policy frameworks to foster resilience in Africa, a region highly vulnerable to climate impacts. By addressing epistemological biases, this approach enhances both sustainability and equity in climate action.
Journal Reference:
David JO, ‘Decolonizing climate change response: African indigenous knowledge and sustainable development’, Frontiers in Sociology 9:1456871 (2024). DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2024.1456871
Article Source: Frontiers in Sociology
Energy crisis drives household gas savings, not economic incentives
A study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences investigates household gas conservation during Germany’s 2022/23 energy crisis, revealing that savings were largely driven by societal engagement rather than economic incentives.
Despite governmental programs like the “gas price brake,” households demonstrated price inelastic behavior, with limited understanding or response to incentive structures. Researchers suggest that collective awareness of the energy crisis heightened conservation as a social priority.
This shift underscores the importance of societal mindset over individual financial motivations in achieving substantial energy savings.
Journal Reference:
M. Dertwinkel-Kalt, C. Feldhaus, A. Ockenfels, M. Sutter, ‘Household reduction of gas consumption in the energy crisis is not explained by individual economic incentives’, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121 (48) e2411740121 (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2411740121
Article Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Other science articles published this week
Source apportionment and driving factor identification for typical watersheds soil heavy metals of Tibetan Plateau based on receptor models and geodetector (Gong, C., Tan, J., Yang, W. et al. Scientific Reports 14, 29108 (2024) | DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-75161-2)
High vulnerability of the endemic Southern Ocean snail Neobuccinum eatoni (Buccinidae) to critical projected oceanographic changes (González, R., Pertierra, L.R., Guerrero, P.C. et al. Scientific Reports 14, 29095 (2024) | DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-80353-x)
Projections of multiple climate-related coastal hazards for the US Southeast Atlantic (Barnard, P.L., Befus, K.M., Danielson, J.J. et al. Nature Climate Change (2024) | DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-02180-2)
Emergent collective behavior evolves more rapidly than individual behavior among acorn ant species (G.N. Doering, M.M. Prebus, S. Suresh, J.N. Greer, R. Bowden, T.A. Linksvayer, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121 (48) e2420078121 (2024) | DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2420078121)
Insurance and climate risks: Policy lessons from three bounding scenarios (C. Kousky, G. Treuer, K.J. Mach, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121 (48) e2317875121 (2024) | DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2317875121)
Cultural evolution: Where we have been and where we are going (maybe) (R. Boyd, P.J. Richerson, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121 (48) e2322879121 (2024) | DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2322879121)
Increasing phosphorus loss despite widespread concentration decline in US rivers (W. Zhi, H. Baniecki, J. Liu, E. Boyer, C. Shen, G. Shenk, X. Liu, L. Li, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121 (48) e2402028121 (2024) | DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2402028121)
Genetic differentiation and precolonial Indigenous cultivation of hazelnut (Corylus cornuta, Betulaceae) in Western North America (C.G. Armstrong, R.B.G. Clemente-Carvalho, N.J. Turner, S. Wickham, A. Trant, M.A. Lemay, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121 (48) e2402304121 (2024) | DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2402304121)
North Atlantic and the Barents Sea variability contribute to the 2023 extreme fire season in Canada (G. Liu, J. Li, X. Li, T. Ying, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121 (49) e2414241121 (2024) | DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2414241121)
Bouncing photons, underwater robots, and the ocean’s green film (B. Barone, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121 (48) e2420619121 (2024) | DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2420619121)
A global assessment of preferential access areas for small-scale fisheries (Basurto, X., Virdin, J., Franz, N. et al. npj Ocean Sustainability 3, 56 (2024) | DOI: 10.1038/s44183-024-00096-0)
Mortality burden of diabetes attributable to high temperature and heatwave under climate change scenarios in China (Chen, S., Zhou, M., Liu, D.L. et al. npj Climate and Atmospheric Science 7, 289 (2024) | DOI: 10.1038/s41612-024-00839-3)
Identifying future challenges for climate change adaptation through insights from participatory scenario-downscaling in Mumbai (Petzold, J., Garschagen, M., Deshpande, S. et al. npj Climate Action 3, 111 (2024) | DOI: 10.1038/s44168-024-00197-z)
Ecological status and type of alteration determine the C-balance and climate change mitigation capacity of Mediterranean inland saline shallow lakes (Morant, D., Rochera, C., Picazo, A. et al. Scientific Reports 14, 29065 (2024) | DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-79578-7)
Perceived school climate, collective teacher efficacy, self-compassion, and subjective well-being in Chinese university teachers: a mediation analysis (Qu, G., Humanities and Social Sciences Communications 11, 1600 (2024) | DOI: 10.1057/s41599-024-04074-2)
Burden of infant mortality associated with flood in 37 African countries (Zhu, Y., He, C., Bachwenkizi, J. et al. Nature Communications 15, 10171 (2024) | DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-54561-y)
Featured image credit: kjpargeter | Freepik
