Unraveling Subjective and Objective Heat Stress
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2024-11-27
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en
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The increased intensity and prolonging of heat waves in the Netherlands results in a significant increase in heat stress exposure, mainly in cultivated neighbourhoods. To reduce the impact of high temperatures in cultivated areas, climate adaptive measures should be taken. Either by individuals, or by the government. Present research investigates the influence of objective and subjective heat stress on elderly’s public support for municipal climate adaptations in Wolfksuil.
By conducting a qualitative study, multiple valuable insights have been posed by residents of the neighbourhood Wolfskuil, including specific locations where heat was experienced most. The following main question has been formulated for this purpose: ‘How do objective and subjective heat stress influence public support from elderly for municipal climate adaptation measures in Wolfskuil, in relation to heat?’.
To discover an answer to this question, semi-structured interviews have been conducted with both the municipality of Nijmegen and the residents of Wolfskuil. In addition, objective heat stress maps have been analysed and respondents were asked to create a subjective visualisation of their experienced hot and cold places in the neighbourhood. After conducting these interviews, it became clear that subjective and objective data were in line with each other. The variables ‘Exposure’, ‘Sensitivity’ and ‘Adaptive Capacity’ played a great role in subjective heat stress and have a strong correlation. Increased exposure leads to more sensitivity, resulting in the need for adaptive measures, which can increase the adaptive capacity.
Moreover, it appears that all respondents support climate adaptive measures by the municipality to a certain extent. Only the replacement of parking spaces by green areas was not really supported. Thus, the influence of subjective and objective heat stress on public support for municipal climate adaptation measures in Wolfskuil is present.
Based on this research, it is recommended for the municipality of Nijmegen to enhance internal and external communication about heat stress. Besides, they should implement more climate adaptive measures as soon as possible, to reduce the exposure and thus sensitivity for heat stress in the neighbourhood.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen