PERCEPTIONS OF SOCIAL-ENVIRONMENTAL DISTURBANCE RELATE TO CLIMATE CHANGE ALONG A TROPICAL ESTUARY IN BRAZIL 7° SOUTH

Abstract

Climate crisis is the main contemporary environmental problem haunting everyone, especially the poor regions in the poorest countries. It subjects the human being to multiple and complex challenges, mainly related to means of subsistence in occupation of coastal territories, exposing poor communities to conditions of extreme vulnerability. The objective of this work is to evaluate the perception of fishermen, managers, specialists and lay people about social vulnerabilities imposed by climate change and sea level rise in the Paraiba-Brazil coastal and estuarine environment in 2017 and up to 2050. The research used a qualitative-quantitative approach to describe and analyse different actors, relating social problems influenced by climate change impacts: on housing prices, coastal and estuarine communities’ migration, health and wellbeing, violence and if something is being done to enhance the adaptive capacity. 73% of those who have institutional power think that in 2050 beach houses will have greater value. However, 75% of them expect that by 2050 coastal communities close to water will be removed, causing and stirring up various types of conflicts, as well as financial losses. The fishermen communities, however, are far more concerned. Every single respondent expects rising rates of violence due to a hostile environment.