Exploring the Relationship Between Human Vulnerability and Place Risk in Satkhira, Bangladesh

Abstract

Climate change poses significant risks to low-lying coastal regions, where environmental hazards interact with socio-economic vulnerability to exacerbate disaster impacts. Bangladesh being one of the world’s most environmentally vulnerable deltaic nations is also being threatened by rising levels of global warming and sea-level rise, accompanied by increased events of flood, storm surges, and saltwater intrusion in their raised coastal zones. It is in this light that this research will explore and examine the relationship between the vulnerable nature of humankind and the risk to places in Satkhira, which is one of the highly vulnerable upazilas in south-western Bangladesh. Secondary data sources include the National Climate Vulnerability Assessment, the INFORM Risk Index, and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). Human Vulnerability Index (HVI) and Place Risk Index (PRI) were developed using the Weighted Linear Combination Method. Pearson’s correlation test was used to examine the relationship between HVI and PRI. The findings indicate strong disparities in space within Satkhira District, with the upazilas along the coast, particularly Shyamnagar and Assasuni, being identified as important hotspots where vulnerability factors are linked with high climate-related risk. The overlay test clearly shows the importance of the space along the coast, with increasing risk towards the southern coastal zone. Statistical test outcomes support the presence of extremely strong and positive correlations between vulnerability and geographical location-based risk factors (r=0.973, p=0.05). The results emphasize the need to have a comprehensive, location-based adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategy targeting both environmental risks and underlying socio-economic vulnerability.