evaluating local climate change adaptation along the southwest coastal area of taiwan

431 Pages·2017·7.09 MB·English

EVALUATING LOCAL CLIMATE CHANGE
ADAPTATION ALONG THE SOUTHWEST
COASTAL AREA OF TAIWAN

Hao-Tang Jhan
School of Earth and Ocean Sciences
Cardiff University

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy

January 2017
Abstract
In the context of research highlighting the mixed performance of coastal climate change
adaptation elsewhere, this thesis developed a modified Analysis-Awareness-Action
(AAA) framework to evaluate local climate change adaptation in four coastal townships
along the vulnerable southwest coast of Taiwan in order to derive recommendations for
local adaptation framework development. This mixed-method research included an
assessment of socioeconomic vulnerability through the development of a socioeconomic
vulnerability indicator framework (SVIF) (‘Analysis’). This included a face-to-face
questionnaire survey with the public to evaluate public awareness of climate change
(‘Awareness’), public participation and community engagement in adaptation actions;
and an expert workshop and follow-up survey to identify the challenges in local
adaptation framework (‘Action’).
Results of the study show that the AAA framework is not only a useful and relevant
approach to contribute to local adaption in Taiwan, but can also serve as a reference for
other threatened countries and people in Asia and non-member countries of the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to respond to climate change.
Results of the SVIF demonstrated that the SVIF was capable of judging location-
specific susceptibility and resilience to climate change between different coastal
communities. Results of the questionnaire revealed high levels of public concern about
climate change, but generally public understanding is insufficient. Further scientific
evidence and explanation is necessary to increase public understanding and knowledge
of climate change. Many findings are consistent with the wider literature. For example,
respondents favoured an emphasis on mitigation over adaptation; preventive and
protection actions were seen as the most effective adaptation approaches and the
immediate priority; potential cost and influence of specific govermental actions on
communities may constrain participation. Additionally, cognitive, affective, and
behavioural factors, which may influence local adaptation engagement, were identified.
These suggest that a constructive dialogue and participatory process is needed with the
public in order to increase community engagement in local adaptation.
Finally, specific challenges for local adaptation framework development, related to
political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental (PESTLE)
perspectives were identified. As a result, it was recommended that there is a need for a
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range of improvements to the current system, including engaging other local
organisations and private actors, developing specialist organisations, legislative acts,
and considering multiple objectives in formulation of adaptation actions to eliminate the
potential conflict of interest.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to take this opportunity to thank those people who have helped in making it
possible for me to complete this work. Firstly, I give a huge and grateful thank you to
me supervisor Dr Rhoda Ballinger for her support during the extensive production of
the thesis. Secondly, I would also like to thank Dr Azmath Jaleel, Dr Wen-Hong Liu and
Dr, Kuo-Huan Ding within the National Kaohsiung Marine University, both of whom
were very helpful during this research. I am especially grateful to those interviewees
who provided me with their valuable time, information and insight into the climate
change and adaptation.
Within the Earth and Ocean Science Department at Cardiff, I have made many friends
who have provided fruitful discussions and helps on many things. My thanks go to the
Severn Estuary Partnership (SEP), Josh and Miros. Closer to home are of course the
people outside of work; Moses’s family, Fay and Pascal, who helped me keep
perspective and provided useful suggestions to deal with the problems in my life in the
UK.
I am of course thankful to all my family and friends in Taiwan, in particular to my mom,
May Chang, for her constant support and encouragement. Finally, I wish to thank my
girlfriend Jin Lin. She has been my partner in this process, providing support and her
patience and caring, kind words and sharing. Thank you for keeping me on track and
helping me to overcome the challenges and difficulties.

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To my father Deng-Yi Jhan and uncle Ping-Chien Chang,
for inspiring and encouraging me

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DECLARATION

This work has not been submitted in substance for any other degree or award at this or
any other university or place of learning, nor is being submitted concurrently in
candidature for any degree or other award.
Signed…………………………………… (candidate) Date …………………………
STATEMENT 1
This thesis is being submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
PhD.
Signed…………………………………… (candidate) Date …………………………
STATEMENT 2
This thesis is the result of my own independent work/investigation, except where
otherwise stated. Other sources are acknowledged by explicit references. The views
expressed are my own.
Signed…………………………………… (candidate) Date …………………………
STATEMENT 3
I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and
for inter-library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside
organisations.
Signed…………………………………… (candidate) Date …………………………
STATEMENT 4: PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BAR ON ACCESS
I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and
for inter-library loans after expiry of a bar on access previously approved by the
Academic Standards & Quality Committee.
Signed…………………………………… (candidate) Date …………………………

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CONTENTS
Abstract ............................................................................................................................ Ⅰ
Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... III
Declaration ........................................................................................................................ V
Contents ........................................................................................................................... VI
List of Tables ................................................................................................................ XIII
List of Figure .................................................................................................................. XV
List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................... XXI
Chapter One Introduction ................................................................................................ 1
1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Rationale ............................................................................................................... 1
1.2.1 Why Do We Need a Climate Change Adaptation Framework? ........................... 1
1.2.2 How to Establish a Complete Adaptation Framework? ........................................ 3
1.2.3 Why Do We Need to Adapt to Climate Change in Taiwan? ................................ 5
1.2.4 Is the Existing Adaptation Framework in Taiwan Capable of Improving
Adaptation to Climate Change? ............................................................................ 6
1.2.5 The Rationale of This Research ............................................................................ 8
1.3 Research Aim and Objectives ............................................................................... 9
1.4 Methodological Approach .................................................................................. 11
1.5 Thesis Structure .................................................................................................. 12
1.6 Important Definitions .......................................................................................... 14
Chapter Two Literature Review .................................................................................... 16
2.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 16
VI
2.2 Theoretical Underpinning and Research Strategy Model................................. 16
2.2.1 Theoretical Underpinning ................................................................................. 16
2.2.2 Awareness-Analysis-Action (AAA) Framework ............................................. 17
2.3 Adaptation ........................................................................................................ 24
2.3.1 The Notions of Adaptation ............................................................................... 24
2.3.2 The Characteristics of Adaptation .................................................................... 27
2.3.3 Summary ........................................................................................................... 31
2.4 Vulnerability ..................................................................................................... 32
2.4.1 The Concept of Vulnerability ........................................................................... 32
2.4.2 Vulnerability Assessment ................................................................................. 36
2.4.3 Summary ........................................................................................................... 39
2.5 Stakeholder Participatory in Climate Change Adaptation ................................ 40
2.5.1 Stakeholder Participation .................................................................................. 40
2.5.2 Top-down and Bottom-up Perspectives in Adaptation Governance ................ 42
2.5.3 Community Engagement .................................................................................. 44
2.5.4 Public Perception .............................................................................................. 47
2.6 Summary-Research Strategy Model ................................................................. 49
Chapter Three Methodology .......................................................................................... 52
3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 52
3.2 Research Aims and Data Requirements in RSM ................................................ 52
3.2.1 Research Aims in RSM ....................................................................................... 52
3.2.2 Data Generation and Method .............................................................................. 55
3.3 Case Study Selection (Exposure) ........................................................................ 56
3.3.1 Case Study Approach .......................................................................................... 56
3.3.2 Geographic Information System ......................................................................... 58
VII
3.3.3 Application of Case Study Selection .................................................................. 59
3.4 Socioeconomic Vulnerability Assessment (Susceptibility & Resilience) .......... 64
3.4.1 Socioeconomic Vulnerability Indicator Framework (SVIF) .............................. 64
3.4.2 Development of Indicator System ...................................................................... 65
3.4.3 Application of the SVIF ...................................................................................... 67
3.5 Questionnaire Survey .......................................................................................... 74
3.5.1 Introduction and Rationale .................................................................................. 74
3.5.2 Application of Face to Face Questionnaire Survey ............................................ 76
3.6 Focus Group ........................................................................................................ 83
3.6.1 Introduction and Rationale .................................................................................. 84
3.6.2 Application of Workshop and Follow-up Questionnaire for Focus Group ........ 85
3.7 Methodological Limitation ................................................................................. 90
3.7.1 Limitations of the SVIF ...................................................................................... 90
3.7.2 Limitations of Face to Face Interview Questionnaire Survey ............................ 91
3.7.3 Limitations of the Focus Group .......................................................................... 92
3.8 Summary ............................................................................................................. 92
Chapter Four: Coastal Vulnerability and the Adaptation Framework in Taiwan .................. 94
4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 94
4.2 Vulnerability of Coastal Areas in Taiwan .......................................................... 94
4.2.1 Exposure of Geographical Features to External Threats .................................... 96
4.2.2 Sensitivity Associated with Socioeconomic Characteristics ............................ 100
4.2.3 The Threats from Climate Change .................................................................... 102
4.3 Adaptation Policy Framework in Taiwan ......................................................... 107
4.3.1 Cooperative Organisations and Agencies ......................................................... 107
4.3.2 Adaptation Strategies and Relevant Actions..................................................... 112
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4.4 Summary ........................................................................................................... 116
Chapter Five The ‘Analysis’ Component of the AAA Framework .......................... 118
5.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 118
5.2 Establishment of SVIF ...................................................................................... 118
5.2.1 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................... 118
5.2.2 Indicator Selection ............................................................................................ 119
5.2.3 SVIF .................................................................................................................. 125
5.2.4 Standardisation of Indicators ............................................................................ 134
5.3 Results ............................................................................................................... 134
5.3.1 Susceptibility..................................................................................................... 134
5.3.2 Resilience .......................................................................................................... 138
5.3.3 Differential Overall Socioeconomic Vulnerability between the Townships .... 141
5.4 Discussion ......................................................................................................... 144
5.4.1 Driving Factors of Socioeconomic Vulnerability of Coastal Community........ 144
5.4.2 Implication of Socioeconomic Vulnerability Analysis ..................................... 148
5.4.3 Wider Application of Indicators System in Assessing Vulnerability ............... 151
5.5 Summary ........................................................................................................... 155
Chapter Six The “Awareness” Component of the AAA framework ........................ 157
6.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 157
6.2 Public Perception of Climate Change ............................................................... 158
6.2.1 Perceived Phenomena Related to Climate Change ........................................... 158
6.2.2 Public Concerns about Climate Change ........................................................... 159
6.2.3 Perceptions relating to the Causes of Climate Change ..................................... 168
6.2.4 Trusted Information Sources about Climate Change ........................................ 170
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