Tag: Environmental Policy

Arturo Vallejos-Romero, Claudia Riquelme, Jaime Garrido Castillo, Álvaro Quezada-Hofflinger, Àlex Boso

Abstract

This article analyzes the communication strategies in the conflicts surrounding the Castilla and HidroAysén projects in Chile. Within this framework, descriptive exploratory research, with an integrated design was performed. The findings revealed simple communication formats that affect the management of the conflict, trust and the development visions, stressing risk communication as important for risk governance.

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Àlex Boso, Álvaro Q. Hofflinger, Christian Oltra, Boris Álvarez & Jaime Garrido

Abstract

This study analyzes the role of the affect heuristic, risk perceptions, and air quality and sociodemographic factors in the support for policies to control urban air pollution. The sample includes 489 participants residing in Temuco and Padre Las Casas, suburban areas located in southern Chile, affected by the smoke that wood-burning stoves and cookers produce. In line with previous studies, the results show that the rejection of pollution mitigation policies is associated with a positive affect to heat homes with wood. Awareness and risk perception also seem to be relevant factors, but the effect of the latter on the support for policies ceases to be significant when it is controlled by key sociodemographic variables such as household income. The study findings contribute to the theories of processing information about risk, when suggesting that emotions and awareness play an important role in the support for policies to control air pollution and that, also, structural factors like household income cannot be avoided. Finally, the implications for urban energy transition processes are discussed.

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Àlex Boso, Boris Álvarez, Christian Oltra, Álvaro Hofflinger, Arturo Vallejos-Romero & Jaime Garrido

Abstract

Various medium-sized cities in southern Chile are saturated by air pollution caused by woodsmoke. In this study, we developed a segmentation model to assess the public’s perceptions, understanding of health risks and emotional responses to poor air quality. To date, this is the first segmentation model dealing with public perception in cities contaminated by woodsmoke. A survey (N = 489) was conducted in Temuco and Padre las Casas, Chile, which included questions regarding attitudes, sociodemographic factors, and health care behaviors, to obtain information for mitigation initiatives. Through a cluster analysis, three population segments were identified that related differently to environmental pollution, which were constructed based on seven psychosocial variables. Different sociodemographic profiles and self-reported behavioral patterns were found, which should guide policies aimed at improving air quality in cities contaminated by pollution from wood-burning stoves.

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Àlex Boso, Christian Oltra & Álvaro Hofflinger

Abstract

Temuco and Padre Las Casas are two of the most polluted cities in southern Chile; around 90% of the particulate matter emissions are produced by wood-burning stoves used for domestic heating and cooking. Surveys were collected from 489 residents to examine differences between applicants and non-applicants to a programme to replace wood-burning stoves with pellet stoves. Results show that participants who applied to the programme are, on average, older than non-applicants, are more likely to have a respiratory impairment, tend to evaluate indoor air quality worse than non-applicants and tend to perceive the health effects of air pollution as more severe. The findings also suggest that motivation to improve air quality is a key aspect for understanding the adoption of pellet stoves when the requirement for initial investment is removed. Practical implications relating to the role of sociodemographic and psychological factors in the decision to replace heating systems are discussed to support the design of more effective interventions to mitigate wood smoke pollution.

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Álvaro Hofflinger, Marcelo A. Somos-Valenzuela, and Arturo Vallejos-Romero

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Current methods to estimate evacuation time during a natural disaster do not consider the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the population. This article develops the Response Time by Social Vulnerability Index (ReTSVI). ReTSVI combines a series of modules that are pieces of information that interact during an evacuation, such as evacuation rate curves, mobilization, inundation models, and social vulnerability indexes, to create an integrated map of the evacuation rate in a given location. We provide an example of the application of ReTSVI in a potential case of a severe flood event in Huaraz, Peru. The results show that during the first 5 min of the evacuation, the population that lives in neighborhoods with a high social vulnerability evacuates 15 % and 22 % fewer people than the blocks with medium and low social vulnerability. These differences gradually decrease over time after the evacuation warning, and social vulnerability becomes less relevant after 30 min. The results of the application example have no statistical significance, which should be considered in a real case of application. Using a methodology such as ReTSVI could make it possible to combine social and physical vulnerability in a qualitative framework for evacuation, although more research is needed to understand the socioeconomic variables that explain the differences in evacuation rate.

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Álvaro Hofflinger, Àlex Boso & Christian Oltra

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Studies on air pollution suggest that individuals perceive their neighborhoods as less polluted than their cities, termed the “halo effect.” This effect is important because how people perceive air quality is highly correlated with whether they will develop coping strategies to reduce health risks from air pollution. We conducted 489 household surveys in two municipalities in south-central Chile, both highly polluted with smoke from wood-burning stoves, to identify differences in perception of air quality at the city, neighborhood, and household levels. We found evidence of a home halo effect even though studies show indoor pollution in these municipalities might be equal to or higher than outdoor pollution. The findings are relevant for local and central governments to improve their communication strategies, which to date have been focused on providing data about outdoor air pollution aggregated at the city level. More detailed and disaggregated information on the health risks linked to indoor air quality can improve residents’ awareness and engagement in developing protective and coping behaviors concerning air pollution.

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Àlex Boso, Boris Álvarez, Christian Oltra, Jaime Garrido, Carlos Muñoz & Álvaro Hofflinger 

Abstract

In southern Chile, epidemiological studies have linked high levels of air pollution produced by the use of wood-burning stoves with the incidence of numerous diseases. Using a quasi-experimental design, this study explores the potential of participatory sensing strategies to transform experiences, perceptions, attitudes, and daily routine activities in 15 households equipped with wood-burning stoves in the city of Temuco, Chile. The results suggest that the experience of using a low-cost sensor improves household members’ awareness levels of air pollution. However, the information provided by the sensors does not seem to improve the participants’ self-efficacy to control air quality and protect themselves from pollution. The high degree of involvement with the participatory sensing experience indicates that the distribution of low-cost sensors could be a key element in the risk communication policies.

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Àlex Boso, JaimeGarrido, Boris Álvarez, Christian Oltra, ÁlvaroHofflinger & Germán Gálvez

Abstract

Several cities in southern Chile are immersed in energy transition processes due to the severe air pollution that the massive use of firewood for domestic heating and cooking has generated. Semi-structured interviews and news analysis of local newspapers were combined to explore the narratives of residents of Temuco and Padre Las Casas, two of the most polluted cities in Latin America. The study uses some aspects of the innovation systems theory to try to understand the social origins of the narratives of resistance to technological change in a city where most homes use wood-burning stoves and cookers. Few studies have employed narratives to study urban energy transitions. A rich narrative about the complexity of technological change emerged from the interviews, offering valuable insights into energy transition research. The results show the relevance of early events in energy transitions in the development of these transitions. The narrative dichotomy between hero and horror stories emerges as a social mechanism capable of slowing the diffusion of emerging energy technologies. The findings of this study suggest that narratives of resistance to change constitute a critical issue that local governments must learn to manage in the transitions toward scenarios of greater urban sustainability.

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Àlex Boso, Álvaro Hofflinger, Jaime Garrido & Boris Álvarez

Abstract

Cities in southern Chile face serious environmental pollution due to extensive use of firewood for heating and cooking. Lack of access to cleaner energy fuel, low-efficiency building materials, and a cold climate exacerbate the problem, which increases the deforestation of the native forests of Patagonia. While environmental justice research has established clear links between air pollution hazards and vulnerable populations, little is known about how this relationship influences the risk perception and adaptation strategies among all urban residents. This study assesses social vulnerability variables, indoor environments, and air pollution adaptation strategies in households located in the city of Coyhaique by monitoring households’ temperatures and conducting semistructured interviews with residents. Focused on interactions between people and their indoor and outdoor environments, this study reveals the microscale hazards and difficulties in overcoming the dilemma between breathing clean air and cheap heating as additional dimensions of environmental injustice.

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