Citation

Clar C. WIREs Water 2019; 6(6): e1378.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/wat2.1378

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The management of hydrometeorological hazard risks increasingly builds on the notion that the main constituents--hazard risk and vulnerability--have to be understood as dynamic processes. Natural hazards and their impacts are influenced by changes in land use and impacts of climate change, whereas the vulnerability of communities is, inter alia, determined by changes in their demographic composition. Structurally weak rural regions have to face these challenges, while their capacities to manage hydrometeorological risks are affected by major demographic developments, such as population decline and demographic aging (especially in Europe). Nonetheless, academic research regarding this issue is still in its infancy. Research on the relationship between hydrometeorological hazards and long-term demographic change often focuses on one side of the coin: impacts of hazards on the demographic composition of communities. The impacts of demographic change onto communities' ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from natural hazards appear as disregarded link. This article gives an overview over linkages by reviewing literature at the intersection of demographic and hydrological hazard research. The review of more than 90 publications provides insights into how particular demographic factors (socioeconomic status; migration, residency, and mobility; gender and gender relations; education and knowledge; and religion and beliefs) determine the management of hydrometeorological hazard risks (floods / drowning). Furthermore, it identifies publications which consider long-term developments. The overview shows that we lack a thorough connection between demographic change and hydrometeorological hazard risk management, which would be crucial for in-depth studies as well as a more dynamic understanding of respective linkages. This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Water Extremes Engineering Water > Planning Water

Language: en

Keywords

demographic change; hydrometeorological hazards; natural hazard risk management; natural hazards; rural communities