Recent Publication

Wiesböck, Laura / Wanka, Anna / Mayrhuber, Elisabeth Anne-Sophie / Allex, Brigitte / Kolland, Franz / Hutter, Hans Peter / Wallner, Peter / Arnberger, Arne / Eder, Renate / Kutalek, Ruth (2016): Heat Vulnerability, Poverty and Health Inequalities in Urban Migrant Communities: A Pilot Study from Vienna. In: Filho, Walter Leal / Azeiteiro, Ulisses / Alves, Fátima (eds.), Climate Change and Health: Improving Resilience and Reducing Risks (389-401). London/New York: Springer.

Abstract

In this chapter we pledge for a differentiated approach in studying heat-related health outcomes and present first descriptive outcomes of two explorative case studies of multi-generation-families in Vienna, comparing a family with Turkish migrant background with a family without migrant background. The data consists of participant observation and
in-depth interviews and has been generated in the course of the research project “Vulnerability of and adaption strategies for migrant groups in urban heat environments
(EthniCityHeat)” between June and September 2014.

Project Description

Background

Climate change is projected to further increase heat waves in number, intensity and duration over most land areas in the 21st century. Urban areas especially suffer from hot days because of the urban “heat island” effects. International research has found higher levels of heatwave mortality and morbidity among groups with migrant background. The increased vulnerability of migrant groups is due to several intersecting risk factors that can be subsumed under the residential area, the social status, the health condition and cultural-behavioural specifics.

The severity of this problem is increasing with the rapid growth of the migrant population in urban areas (Vienna: 38.4% have a migrant background). Despite many European cities facing similar situations, there seems to be little awareness of this vulnerability among stakeholders. This might be due to the fact that hardly anything is known about how different migrant groups perceive heat, react to heat stress and can be reached with heat warnings and recommendations for heat adaption strategies. This knowledge gap is remarkable as the proportion of this high-risk group is growing without any corresponding increase in knowledge about their levels of heat stress, heat adaption and how to reach them in case of heat waves.

Objectives of the project

EthniCityHeat aims to reduce these knowledge gaps and the vulnerability of urban residents´with migrant background during heat waves. The project follows three main objectives:

• EthniCityHeat generates an empirical knowledge base about the specific heat-related vulnerabilities of persons with migrant backgrounds living in Vienna, their perceptions and adaption strategies in regard to heat.
• EthniCityHeat enhances awareness about these specific vulnerabilities among stakeholders, intermediaries and those affected.
• EthniCityHeat reduces these specific vulnerabilities by resorting to existing (social) resources and additional measures on the administrative, medical, social and urban planning etc. levels.

Framework

Project Leader: Franz Kolland, Department of Sociology, University of Vienna
Project Researchers: Anna Wanka, Laura Wiesböck
Funding: Climate and Energy Fund
Duration: 2014-2017

Partner:
Arne Arnberger, Brigitte Alex, Renate Eder
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna Institute of Landscape Development, Recreation and Conservation Planning

Ruth Kutalek, Elisabeth Sophie Mayrhuber
Unit Ethnomedicine and International Health
Department for General Practice and Family Medicine, Centre for Public Health
Medical University of Vienna

Hans-Peter Hutter, Peter Wallner
Institute for Environmental Health, Centre for Public Health
Medical University of Vienna

Methodology

The study comprises three phases:

Exploratory phase

The aim of the exploratory phase is to gain relevant information on the relatively unexplored topic under study and provide a pre-study for the quantitative survey. Originally, the exploratory phase comprised sixethnographic case studies of Turkish and Austrian families. However, after conducting two case studies, consisting of participant observation and semistructured in-depth interviews with a family with Turkish migrant background in comparison with a fa ily with Austrian background, in 2014, the project team decided to replace the following four case studies with 13 qualitative problem-centred interviews with persons of Turkish background residing in heat-vulnerable environments. The reason for this was that the first two case studies generated a rich database already and lead to the formulation of more concrete research questions that could better be asked in an interview setting. Additionally, 15 expert interviews with stakeholders, decision-makers and intermediaries have been conducted on their awareness, opinions and actions regarding the effects of heat on persons with migrant background.

Confirmatory phase

The aim of the subsequent confirmatory phase is to generate generalisable results for the group under study. Therefore, two standardised face-to-face surveys (each n=400) have been conducted. The quantitative data comprises attitudes towards climate change, awareness and perception of heat stress, adaptive strategies and behaviours and the role of green spaces for migrants and natives during hot days. Comparison between persons with different migrant backgrounds/ages and to natives are being conducted and gaps between recommended and actual behaviour as well as gaps between public information channels and migrants’ information sources are being identified.

In-depth phase

The aim of the in-depth phase is to deepen the knowledge gained from the survey results. The third methodological phase has not been planned for, but became necessary because qualitative and quantitative results seemed partly contradictory, because they covered partly different groups. Therefore, ten interviews with the particularly risk-entailing group of elderly persons of Turkish background residing in heat-vulnerable environments have been conducted in the in-depth phase. Different types of relevant actors (stakeholders, intermediaries, beneficiaries) are involved in all research stages ensuring practical usability and sustainability of research results.

The final project output will be a ‘Heat Toolbox’, providing assistance for the organization of information events and presentation of the results (e.g. target group specific materials, power point presentations, handouts, etc.).

(Copyright: flickr/00abstrahiert99)

Presentations / Workshops

Presentations at international conferences

Oral Presentation
“Heat Vulnerabilities in Urban Migrant Communities: A Mixed-Methods Study from Vienna” Third ISA Forum of Sociology, July 10-14 2016, Vienna.

Oral Presentation
“Are certain social groups affected differently by urban heat waves? An intersectional pilot study on persons with Turkish migrant background in Vienna”
17th Austrian Climate Day, April 6-8 2016, Graz.

Oral Presentation
“Heat Vulnerability, Poverty and Health Inequalities in Urban Migrant Communities: A Pilot Study from Vienna”
World Symposium on Climate Change Adaptation, 3-5 September 2015, Manchester.

Oral presentation
“Elderly and migrants under urban heat pressure – Results of two climate change adaptation studies”
European Climate Change Adaptation Conference (ECCA), 12-14 May 2015, Copenhagen

Workshops

Workshop with stakeholders, intermediaries and beneficiaries
The first workshop was carried out at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences on February 17th, 2016. Eleven experts and stakeholders from different disciplines (members of the Vienna City Administration in the field of environmental protection and public health services, representatives of migrant organisations, the Austrian Red Cross and the Viennese Area Renewal Office as well as researchers in the field migration) took part. The aim of the first workshop was to present the first survey results, discuss them and develop adaption measures and recommendations to make summer heat in the city more bearable for migrants. The workshop started with an overview of the project aims and a presentation of first results of the qualitative interviews and an overview of the two quantitative studies. Based on this input the participants discussed the following main topics during two round tables:

– Identification of stakeholders and sectors of the Vienna City Administration which/who are responsible for the issue “heat and migrants” in Vienna

– Improvement of the awareness raising among multipliers and medical doctors

– Development of information strategies for migrants

– Identification of measures to prevent private residences from overheating; focused on homes, where migrants are living (best practice examples)

– Implementation of measures in public/green spaces to improve life quality of migrants during the summer heat in the city; improvement of the access to distant green spaces for migrants

The discussion points are being transferred into a first list of implementation measures which will be worked on and specified in a second stakeholder workshop.

 

Media [German]

In der Hitze der Stadt: MigrantInnen stärker betroffen – APA Press release of the University of Vienna, July 2015.

Die soziale Dimension der Hitzewelle – Article on myscience.at, July 2015.

Migranten sind von Hitze starker betroffen – Article on science.orf.at, July 2015.

Hitze und ihre sozialen Auswirkungen – Article on wien.orf.at, July 2015.

Hitze in der Stadt: Folgen für Migranten werden erforscht. Wiener Wissenschaftler untersuchen die soziale Lage als Risikofaktor – “Die Presse”, Print, July 201

Wer die Hitze der Stadt besonders zu spüren bekommt – Ö1, July 2015

Autopsie einer sozialen Katastrophe: Was einer Hitzewelle tödliche Wucht verleiht – „Der Tagesspiegel“, Print, August 2015.