Shared hazards, unequal outcomes: income-driven inequities in disaster risk

Abstract Climate-induced hazards exert uneven impacts on communities. However, conventional risk models rarely consider these disparities, which are critical for informing risk reduction decisions. Instead, they quantify risk solely based on the value of assets at risk, without accounting for how co...

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Main Authors: Jeanette J. Choong, Dennis Wagenaar, Maricar L. Rabonza, Perrine Hamel, Adam D. Switzer, David Lallemant
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:npj Natural Hazards
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-025-00087-2
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author Jeanette J. Choong
Dennis Wagenaar
Maricar L. Rabonza
Perrine Hamel
Adam D. Switzer
David Lallemant
author_facet Jeanette J. Choong
Dennis Wagenaar
Maricar L. Rabonza
Perrine Hamel
Adam D. Switzer
David Lallemant
author_sort Jeanette J. Choong
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Climate-induced hazards exert uneven impacts on communities. However, conventional risk models rarely consider these disparities, which are critical for informing risk reduction decisions. Instead, they quantify risk solely based on the value of assets at risk, without accounting for how communities are differentially exposed and vulnerable to particular hazards. This has significant consequences for low-income populations, who tend to suffer most from disasters. Our study introduces an equity-sensitive framework that considers inequities in exposure and vulnerability, demonstrating how these inequities compound into well-being risks. We apply this framework in a large-scale study of coastal flooding and sea-level rise risk in the Philippines, highlighting both quantitative and spatial variations in asset and well-being risks. Findings indicate that accounting for income-driven inequities yields a more comprehensive understanding of coastal flood risks across groups. This framework is adaptable for other hazards and contexts, and aims to promote more equitable disaster risk reduction outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-2252ac266fa640239311fca3fcd9e1e52025-08-20T02:19:57ZengNature Portfolionpj Natural Hazards2948-21002025-04-012111410.1038/s44304-025-00087-2Shared hazards, unequal outcomes: income-driven inequities in disaster riskJeanette J. Choong0Dennis Wagenaar1Maricar L. Rabonza2Perrine Hamel3Adam D. Switzer4David Lallemant5Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological UniversityAsian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological UniversityAsian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological UniversityAsian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological UniversityAsian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological UniversityAsian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological UniversityAbstract Climate-induced hazards exert uneven impacts on communities. However, conventional risk models rarely consider these disparities, which are critical for informing risk reduction decisions. Instead, they quantify risk solely based on the value of assets at risk, without accounting for how communities are differentially exposed and vulnerable to particular hazards. This has significant consequences for low-income populations, who tend to suffer most from disasters. Our study introduces an equity-sensitive framework that considers inequities in exposure and vulnerability, demonstrating how these inequities compound into well-being risks. We apply this framework in a large-scale study of coastal flooding and sea-level rise risk in the Philippines, highlighting both quantitative and spatial variations in asset and well-being risks. Findings indicate that accounting for income-driven inequities yields a more comprehensive understanding of coastal flood risks across groups. This framework is adaptable for other hazards and contexts, and aims to promote more equitable disaster risk reduction outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-025-00087-2
spellingShingle Jeanette J. Choong
Dennis Wagenaar
Maricar L. Rabonza
Perrine Hamel
Adam D. Switzer
David Lallemant
Shared hazards, unequal outcomes: income-driven inequities in disaster risk
npj Natural Hazards
title Shared hazards, unequal outcomes: income-driven inequities in disaster risk
title_full Shared hazards, unequal outcomes: income-driven inequities in disaster risk
title_fullStr Shared hazards, unequal outcomes: income-driven inequities in disaster risk
title_full_unstemmed Shared hazards, unequal outcomes: income-driven inequities in disaster risk
title_short Shared hazards, unequal outcomes: income-driven inequities in disaster risk
title_sort shared hazards unequal outcomes income driven inequities in disaster risk
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-025-00087-2
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