Some appendices catalogued separatelyThe main objective of the research was to generate knowledge... more Some appendices catalogued separatelyThe main objective of the research was to generate knowledge on climate related hazards in the Indus Basin in Pakistan and their impact on marginalised communities, along with the factors that enable recovery following the floods. Prior research on hazards in Pakistan has demonstrated that vulnerability is constructed along class and gender inequalities and is embedded in everyday geographies of access to resources, state policies and social power. However, current infrastructure engineering and relief-oriented flood policy reflects little understanding of, or sensitivity to issues of social vulnerability
The purpose of this project is to broadly understand and analyze the degree to which the city of ... more The purpose of this project is to broadly understand and analyze the degree to which the city of Jijiga, Ethiopia is prepared to receive expected climate change impacts. One of the fastest growing cities in the Somali region, Jijiga currently faces a number of critical developments and ecosystem management challenges that impact the lives and livelihoods of its citizens. Changes in precipitation, temperature, and other climate conditions as a result of climate change have the potential to severely and negatively affect specific populations and the ecosystems they rely on unless different development pathways are chosen that build Ethiopia’s resilience to a variety of future challenges, not just climate change. Jijiga’s ability to adapt to forthcoming climate impacts will depend, to an extent, on the understanding of current climate patterns and future projections. Such awareness will hopefully lead to the creation of an informed adaptation plan where institutions, systems, and peopl...
Opitz-Stapleton, S. (2010). Only Death is Certain, Yet You Still Get Out of Bed in the Morning: O... more Opitz-Stapleton, S. (2010). Only Death is Certain, Yet You Still Get Out of Bed in the Morning: Observations on the Use of Climate Information in Adaptation and Resilience Practice. Climate Resilience in Concept and Practice Working Paper Series. Boulder, Colorado.
Boulder, Colorado, is prone to fires, floods and droughts. All are likely to intensify with clima... more Boulder, Colorado, is prone to fires, floods and droughts. All are likely to intensify with climate change. This study looks at flooding in Boulder in September 2013. Though the scale of flooding was unprecedented, only 10 lives were lost, most infrastructure was maintained, and the recovery has been strong. This case study explores this resilience — what made it possible, and where there is opportunity for learning— by breaking it down into three categories: Built Infrastructure: • Community paths and open space along rivers allowed rivers to overflow their banks with minimal damage. • Six of the seven roads into the mountains failed because they were all next to rivers; systems are not redundant if they have the same point of failure. Human Systems: • Learning from previous disasters directly improved the flood response. • Self-organized groups mobilized thousands of people, expanded resources, and brought new technologies into the response. This could have been even more effectiv...
ABSTRACT The purpose of this project is to broadly understand and analyze the degree to which the... more ABSTRACT The purpose of this project is to broadly understand and analyze the degree to which the city of Jijiga, Ethiopia is prepared to receive expected climate change impacts. One of the fastest growing cities in the Somali region, Jijiga currently faces a number of critical developments and ecosystem management challenges that impact the lives and livelihoods of its citizens. Changes in precipitation, temperature, and other climate conditions as a result of climate change have the potential to severely and negatively affect specific populations and the ecosystems they rely on unless different development pathways are chosen that build Ethiopia’s resilience to a variety of future challenges, not just climate change. Jijiga’s ability to adapt to forthcoming climate impacts will depend, to an extent, on the understanding of current climate patterns and future projections. Such awareness will hopefully lead to the creation of an informed adaptation plan where institutions, systems, and people will understand their vulnerabilities and take action towards building resilience to future climate shocks, including the ability to receive a large number of climate migrants in upcoming years.
Occupational extreme heat exposure can lead to a number of heat-health impacts for workers. We in... more Occupational extreme heat exposure can lead to a number of heat-health impacts for workers. We investigated potential changes in day and nighttime ambient temperatures and heat indices for Da Nang, Vietnam over the period 2020-2049 when compared with 1970-1999, and potential implications for workers.
Perceptions about partners’ abilities to find, interpret, and utilize climate information in the ... more Perceptions about partners’ abilities to find, interpret, and utilize climate information in the various ACCCRN contexts is influenced by an individual’s or organization’s understanding of climate information and conceptions toward how it should be used. All ACCCRN partners were presented with a questionnaire designed to elicit their perceptions on: 1) the process by which climate information was utilized in each country and/or city context; 2) the evolution in their understanding of how climate information should versus could have been used at various points in the project; and 3) their recommendations for what they think should be done differently in accessing, interpreting, translating, communicating and using climate information at various stages of the adaptation process. I have tried to supplement perceptions from the questionnaires with my (and other ISET staff ’s) experiences of working with various partners, notes from the shared learning dialogues/workshops, and correspond...
Between September 11 and 18, 2013 Boulder, Colorado received over 17 inches of rain, about 85% of... more Between September 11 and 18, 2013 Boulder, Colorado received over 17 inches of rain, about 85% of the annual average, all in one week. The rains resulted in severe flooding throughout the county that severely damaged or destroyed 688 homes and damaged an additional 9,900; damaged 150 miles of county roads; and killed ten people. The storm parked in the area and poured down rain for days on end, affecting not just Boulder County but 14 counties in the region. The rains and flooding were of historic proportions, and taxed the ability of communities across a wide swath of Colorado to respond.
The range of destruction was wide. Some towns were only affected in isolated parts, while others like Lyons and Jamestown in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains were devastated.
In many ways the City of Boulder and the wider Boulder County were well prepared for disaster. Yet the floods still caused millions of dollars in destruction and displaced many people, in some cases entire towns. What factors contributed to resilience, and what factors undermined it? This study looks at this question, breaking it down into three main categories.
The study method included interviews with key people in local government, civil society, and business, as well as academics studying the disaster. Interviews were supplemented with review of rainfall and hydrological data, press reports, and participant observation of the relief and recovery efforts.
The purpose of this project is to understand and analyze the degree to which the city of Jijiga, ... more The purpose of this project is to understand and analyze the degree to which the city of Jijiga, Ethiopia is prepared to receive expected climate change impacts. One of the fastest growing cities in the Somali region, Jijiga currently faces a number of critical developments and ecosystem management challenges that impact the lives and livelihoods of its citizens. Changes in precipitation, temperature, and other climate conditions as a result of climate change have the potential to severely and negatively affect specific populations and the ecosystems they rely on unless different development pathways are chosen that build Ethiopia’s resilience to a variety of future challenges, not just climate change. Jijiga’s ability to adapt to forthcoming climate impacts will depend, to a great extent, on the understanding of current climate patterns and future projections. Such awareness will hopefully lead to the creation of an informed adaptation plan where institutions, systems, and people will understand their vulnerabilities and take action towards building resilience to future climate shocks, including the ability to receive a large number of climate migrants in upcoming years.
Heat waves and warming temperatures pose a serious threat for human settlements worldwide, especi... more Heat waves and warming temperatures pose a serious threat for human settlements worldwide, especially in urban environments. Research shows that increased temperatures, coupled with the urban heat island effect, can have a crippling effect on both biological and infrastructure systems. As the number of people living in cities continues to increase, so does the vulnerability of target groups susceptible to the impacts of heat. In an attempt to better understand the risks involved, the paper explores literature surrounding the implications of heat including morbidity, mortality, work productivity, and system failures. In addition, the paper highlights potential options for adaptation, which scale from the individual level to that of policy implementation, including the importance of managing impacts from a multi-stakeholder perspective.
For decades, the study and practice of disaster recovery remained less well-understood than prepa... more For decades, the study and practice of disaster recovery remained less well-understood than preparedness, response, and hazard mitigation activities (Smith and Wenger 2006; Rubin 2009). Following Hurricane Katrina, a significant effort has been made by researchers to study the phenomena while the federal government created the National Disaster Recovery Framework in order to fulfill the intent of a Congressionally-mandated national disaster recovery strategy.
The role that state agencies and governors play in disaster recovery remains even less well- understood (Smith 2011; Sandler and Smith 2013). This lack of knowledge is present in both research and practice, resulting in a limited understanding of state roles in recovery and reactive policy-making following disasters. One way to better understand this process, and improve disaster recovery outcomes, is to seek insights from state officials who have experienced major disasters, including lessons that can be shared with their peers. This guide is intended to help inform the use of a video to achieve these aims.
Some appendices catalogued separatelyThe main objective of the research was to generate knowledge... more Some appendices catalogued separatelyThe main objective of the research was to generate knowledge on climate related hazards in the Indus Basin in Pakistan and their impact on marginalised communities, along with the factors that enable recovery following the floods. Prior research on hazards in Pakistan has demonstrated that vulnerability is constructed along class and gender inequalities and is embedded in everyday geographies of access to resources, state policies and social power. However, current infrastructure engineering and relief-oriented flood policy reflects little understanding of, or sensitivity to issues of social vulnerability
The purpose of this project is to broadly understand and analyze the degree to which the city of ... more The purpose of this project is to broadly understand and analyze the degree to which the city of Jijiga, Ethiopia is prepared to receive expected climate change impacts. One of the fastest growing cities in the Somali region, Jijiga currently faces a number of critical developments and ecosystem management challenges that impact the lives and livelihoods of its citizens. Changes in precipitation, temperature, and other climate conditions as a result of climate change have the potential to severely and negatively affect specific populations and the ecosystems they rely on unless different development pathways are chosen that build Ethiopia’s resilience to a variety of future challenges, not just climate change. Jijiga’s ability to adapt to forthcoming climate impacts will depend, to an extent, on the understanding of current climate patterns and future projections. Such awareness will hopefully lead to the creation of an informed adaptation plan where institutions, systems, and peopl...
Opitz-Stapleton, S. (2010). Only Death is Certain, Yet You Still Get Out of Bed in the Morning: O... more Opitz-Stapleton, S. (2010). Only Death is Certain, Yet You Still Get Out of Bed in the Morning: Observations on the Use of Climate Information in Adaptation and Resilience Practice. Climate Resilience in Concept and Practice Working Paper Series. Boulder, Colorado.
Boulder, Colorado, is prone to fires, floods and droughts. All are likely to intensify with clima... more Boulder, Colorado, is prone to fires, floods and droughts. All are likely to intensify with climate change. This study looks at flooding in Boulder in September 2013. Though the scale of flooding was unprecedented, only 10 lives were lost, most infrastructure was maintained, and the recovery has been strong. This case study explores this resilience — what made it possible, and where there is opportunity for learning— by breaking it down into three categories: Built Infrastructure: • Community paths and open space along rivers allowed rivers to overflow their banks with minimal damage. • Six of the seven roads into the mountains failed because they were all next to rivers; systems are not redundant if they have the same point of failure. Human Systems: • Learning from previous disasters directly improved the flood response. • Self-organized groups mobilized thousands of people, expanded resources, and brought new technologies into the response. This could have been even more effectiv...
ABSTRACT The purpose of this project is to broadly understand and analyze the degree to which the... more ABSTRACT The purpose of this project is to broadly understand and analyze the degree to which the city of Jijiga, Ethiopia is prepared to receive expected climate change impacts. One of the fastest growing cities in the Somali region, Jijiga currently faces a number of critical developments and ecosystem management challenges that impact the lives and livelihoods of its citizens. Changes in precipitation, temperature, and other climate conditions as a result of climate change have the potential to severely and negatively affect specific populations and the ecosystems they rely on unless different development pathways are chosen that build Ethiopia’s resilience to a variety of future challenges, not just climate change. Jijiga’s ability to adapt to forthcoming climate impacts will depend, to an extent, on the understanding of current climate patterns and future projections. Such awareness will hopefully lead to the creation of an informed adaptation plan where institutions, systems, and people will understand their vulnerabilities and take action towards building resilience to future climate shocks, including the ability to receive a large number of climate migrants in upcoming years.
Occupational extreme heat exposure can lead to a number of heat-health impacts for workers. We in... more Occupational extreme heat exposure can lead to a number of heat-health impacts for workers. We investigated potential changes in day and nighttime ambient temperatures and heat indices for Da Nang, Vietnam over the period 2020-2049 when compared with 1970-1999, and potential implications for workers.
Perceptions about partners’ abilities to find, interpret, and utilize climate information in the ... more Perceptions about partners’ abilities to find, interpret, and utilize climate information in the various ACCCRN contexts is influenced by an individual’s or organization’s understanding of climate information and conceptions toward how it should be used. All ACCCRN partners were presented with a questionnaire designed to elicit their perceptions on: 1) the process by which climate information was utilized in each country and/or city context; 2) the evolution in their understanding of how climate information should versus could have been used at various points in the project; and 3) their recommendations for what they think should be done differently in accessing, interpreting, translating, communicating and using climate information at various stages of the adaptation process. I have tried to supplement perceptions from the questionnaires with my (and other ISET staff ’s) experiences of working with various partners, notes from the shared learning dialogues/workshops, and correspond...
Between September 11 and 18, 2013 Boulder, Colorado received over 17 inches of rain, about 85% of... more Between September 11 and 18, 2013 Boulder, Colorado received over 17 inches of rain, about 85% of the annual average, all in one week. The rains resulted in severe flooding throughout the county that severely damaged or destroyed 688 homes and damaged an additional 9,900; damaged 150 miles of county roads; and killed ten people. The storm parked in the area and poured down rain for days on end, affecting not just Boulder County but 14 counties in the region. The rains and flooding were of historic proportions, and taxed the ability of communities across a wide swath of Colorado to respond.
The range of destruction was wide. Some towns were only affected in isolated parts, while others like Lyons and Jamestown in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains were devastated.
In many ways the City of Boulder and the wider Boulder County were well prepared for disaster. Yet the floods still caused millions of dollars in destruction and displaced many people, in some cases entire towns. What factors contributed to resilience, and what factors undermined it? This study looks at this question, breaking it down into three main categories.
The study method included interviews with key people in local government, civil society, and business, as well as academics studying the disaster. Interviews were supplemented with review of rainfall and hydrological data, press reports, and participant observation of the relief and recovery efforts.
The purpose of this project is to understand and analyze the degree to which the city of Jijiga, ... more The purpose of this project is to understand and analyze the degree to which the city of Jijiga, Ethiopia is prepared to receive expected climate change impacts. One of the fastest growing cities in the Somali region, Jijiga currently faces a number of critical developments and ecosystem management challenges that impact the lives and livelihoods of its citizens. Changes in precipitation, temperature, and other climate conditions as a result of climate change have the potential to severely and negatively affect specific populations and the ecosystems they rely on unless different development pathways are chosen that build Ethiopia’s resilience to a variety of future challenges, not just climate change. Jijiga’s ability to adapt to forthcoming climate impacts will depend, to a great extent, on the understanding of current climate patterns and future projections. Such awareness will hopefully lead to the creation of an informed adaptation plan where institutions, systems, and people will understand their vulnerabilities and take action towards building resilience to future climate shocks, including the ability to receive a large number of climate migrants in upcoming years.
Heat waves and warming temperatures pose a serious threat for human settlements worldwide, especi... more Heat waves and warming temperatures pose a serious threat for human settlements worldwide, especially in urban environments. Research shows that increased temperatures, coupled with the urban heat island effect, can have a crippling effect on both biological and infrastructure systems. As the number of people living in cities continues to increase, so does the vulnerability of target groups susceptible to the impacts of heat. In an attempt to better understand the risks involved, the paper explores literature surrounding the implications of heat including morbidity, mortality, work productivity, and system failures. In addition, the paper highlights potential options for adaptation, which scale from the individual level to that of policy implementation, including the importance of managing impacts from a multi-stakeholder perspective.
For decades, the study and practice of disaster recovery remained less well-understood than prepa... more For decades, the study and practice of disaster recovery remained less well-understood than preparedness, response, and hazard mitigation activities (Smith and Wenger 2006; Rubin 2009). Following Hurricane Katrina, a significant effort has been made by researchers to study the phenomena while the federal government created the National Disaster Recovery Framework in order to fulfill the intent of a Congressionally-mandated national disaster recovery strategy.
The role that state agencies and governors play in disaster recovery remains even less well- understood (Smith 2011; Sandler and Smith 2013). This lack of knowledge is present in both research and practice, resulting in a limited understanding of state roles in recovery and reactive policy-making following disasters. One way to better understand this process, and improve disaster recovery outcomes, is to seek insights from state officials who have experienced major disasters, including lessons that can be shared with their peers. This guide is intended to help inform the use of a video to achieve these aims.
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Papers by Lea Sabbag
The range of destruction was wide. Some towns were only affected in isolated parts, while others like Lyons and Jamestown in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains were devastated.
In many ways the City of Boulder and the wider Boulder County were well prepared for disaster. Yet the floods still caused millions of dollars in destruction and displaced many people, in some cases entire towns. What factors contributed to resilience, and what factors undermined it? This study looks at this question, breaking it down into three main categories.
The study method included interviews with key people in local government, civil society, and business, as well as academics studying the disaster. Interviews were supplemented with review of rainfall and hydrological data, press reports, and participant observation of the relief and recovery efforts.
Teaching Documents by Lea Sabbag
The role that state agencies and governors play in disaster recovery remains even less well- understood (Smith 2011; Sandler and Smith 2013). This lack of knowledge is present in both research and practice, resulting in a limited understanding of state roles in recovery and reactive policy-making following disasters. One way to better understand this process, and improve disaster recovery outcomes, is to seek insights from state officials who have experienced major disasters, including lessons that can be shared with their peers. This guide is intended to help inform the use of a video to achieve these aims.
The range of destruction was wide. Some towns were only affected in isolated parts, while others like Lyons and Jamestown in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains were devastated.
In many ways the City of Boulder and the wider Boulder County were well prepared for disaster. Yet the floods still caused millions of dollars in destruction and displaced many people, in some cases entire towns. What factors contributed to resilience, and what factors undermined it? This study looks at this question, breaking it down into three main categories.
The study method included interviews with key people in local government, civil society, and business, as well as academics studying the disaster. Interviews were supplemented with review of rainfall and hydrological data, press reports, and participant observation of the relief and recovery efforts.
The role that state agencies and governors play in disaster recovery remains even less well- understood (Smith 2011; Sandler and Smith 2013). This lack of knowledge is present in both research and practice, resulting in a limited understanding of state roles in recovery and reactive policy-making following disasters. One way to better understand this process, and improve disaster recovery outcomes, is to seek insights from state officials who have experienced major disasters, including lessons that can be shared with their peers. This guide is intended to help inform the use of a video to achieve these aims.