Climate Change, Flood Risk and Property Value: Assessment of vulnerability and equity in the Boston Metro Area
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Abstract
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The general consensus is that global climate change will result in increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Coastal urban communities are likely to suffer more flood damages as a result of this change, with potential social justice implications regarding how burdens are shared. Current decision-making approaches, mostly based on scientific knowledge and economic efficiency, do not take into account several ethical aspects associated with climate change, including equity concerns. In this paper, the author addresses a number of questions with justice implications. His findings show a differential exposure to hazards arid uneven capability to cope with them, which places higher risk on the most vulnerable sectors of the population. The religious community can contribute in raising awareness and helping to explore adaptive measures designed to reduce the economic and social impacts of extreme events in an equitable way.