Developing a Climate Change Vulnerability Index for Coastal City Sustainability, Mitigation, and Adaptation: A Case Study of Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia

Coastal hazards are an urgent issue of global concern considering the increasing population pressure in coastal regions, retreating coastlines, and rising seawater levels. Here we demonstrate the process of assessing the vulnerability of a coastal urban environment using the case of Kuala Terengganu...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Milad Bagheri, Zelina Zaiton Ibrahim, Mohd Fadzil Akhir, Wan Izatul Asma Wan Talaat, Bahareh Oryani, Shahabaldin Rezania, Isabelle D. Wolf, Amin Beiranvand Pour
Format: article
Language:EN
Published: MDPI AG 2021
Subjects:
GIS
S
Online Access:https://doaj.org/article/e09cfc5d6d3a496aa2069df264ce6f58
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Coastal hazards are an urgent issue of global concern considering the increasing population pressure in coastal regions, retreating coastlines, and rising seawater levels. Here we demonstrate the process of assessing the vulnerability of a coastal urban environment using the case of Kuala Terengganu, a coastal town in Malaysia, and evaluating the potential social, environmental, and economic impacts. Uncertainties in the human dimensions of global change deeply affect the assessment and responses to environmental, climatic, and non-climate impacts on coastal city population growth and communities. We address these uncertainties by combining a Delphi-Analytical Hierarchy Process (Delphi-AHP) model and Geographic Information System (GIS)tools to determine mitigation and adaptation probabilities as part of a Coastal City Vulnerability Assessment. We conclude by presenting calculations of the short- and long-term suitability for land use and recommending hazard mitigation measures to equip city planners and decision-makers in evaluating hazards and potential impacts on coastal city areas.