Communicating climate-related hazard risks in a changing world: A case study of risk communication in Longyearbyen

Abstract

Climate change in the arctic is occurring at a faster rate than the rest of the world. One such example is the fact that the increase in temperature in the arctic is twice that of the rest of the world (NCSS, 2019). Change in perspiration, rising temperatures and higher frequency of flooding are some of the effects which climate change have on the environment in the arctic region (NCSS, 2019). These changes in climate affects climate-related hazard risks, affecting both the frequency of which climate-related hazard risks can occur, as well as its consequences. These changes in environment and its effect on climate-related hazard risks are of importance to Longyearbyen, the only Norwegian town located in Svalbard. Longyearbyen is faced with a multitude of different climate-related hazard risks, such as snow avalanche, flooding, debris flow and rockfall. In addition, it has a diverse population with over 40 different nationalities, and an everchanging demographic (SSB, 2012). The inhabitants of Longyearbyen must therefore live with these everchanging climate-related hazard risks right at their doorsteps, while receiving risk communication from the authorities about these risks. It is the risk communication from the authorities to the inhabitants regarding these climate-related hazard which is of interest.

This master thesis therefore seeks to explore how the local authorities in Longyearbyen are communicating climate-related hazard risks to the inhabitants of Longyearbyen, through four research questions. The method utilized in this master thesis is one of embedded single-case design, with an explorative abductive approach. The method utilized in the data collection is a methodological triangulation. The empirical chapter is based on fieldwork, quantitative survey, qualitative interviews and document study.

The major empirical findings suggests that the authorities in Longyearbyen have a strong foundation for short-term risk communication, where the foundation is utilized to focus on snow avalanche related risk communication. This enables a well working short-term risk communication for the risk of snow avalanche in Longyearbyen but leaves little to no attention for short-term risk communication regarding the risk of flooding, debris flow & rockfall in Longyearbyen. Likewise, the authorities have a strong foundation for long-term risk communication. It has been identified that their long-term risk communication focuses on snow avalanche leaving little to no attention to the risk of flooding, debris flow & rockfall in Longyearbyen. Additionally, the authorities’ webpages are formulated in an academic way, creating a barrier for ordinary inhabitant to both read and understand it, transforming the content from information to documentation.

This master thesis concludes that the authorities in Longyearbyen have a strong foundation for both short-term and long-term risk communication, but its focus on snow avalanche risk communication increases the inhabitant’s reliance on society-wide networks such as webpages for information regarding other climate-related hazard risks flooding, debris flow & rockfall. The authorities are also not adequately advertising this information, reducing the awareness of such information, as well as the information being formulated in an academic way, resulting in the content transforming from information to documentation. This master thesis highlights three recommendation which could be implemented to improve the long-term risk communication of the risk of flooding, debris flow & rockfall in Longyearbyen, which overall would improve the authorities overall risk communication of climate-related hazard risks in Longyearbyen.

Climate change in the arctic is occurring at a faster rate than the rest of the world. One such example is the fact that the increase in temperature in the arctic is twice that of the rest of the world (NCSS, 2019). Change in perspiration, rising temperatures and higher frequency of flooding are some of the effects which climate change have on the environment in the arctic region (NCSS, 2019). These changes in climate affects climate-related hazard risks, affecting both the frequency of which climate-related hazard risks can occur, as well as its consequences. These changes in environment and its effect on climate-related hazard risks are of importance to Longyearbyen, the only Norwegian town located in Svalbard. Longyearbyen is faced with a multitude of different climate-related hazard risks, such as snow avalanche, flooding, debris flow and rockfall. In addition, it has a diverse population with over 40 different nationalities, and an everchanging demographic (SSB, 2012). The inhabitants of Longyearbyen must therefore live with these everchanging climate-related hazard risks right at their doorsteps, while receiving risk communication from the authorities about these risks. It is the risk communication from the authorities to the inhabitants regarding these climate-related hazard which is of interest.

This master thesis therefore seeks to explore how the local authorities in Longyearbyen are communicating climate-related hazard risks to the inhabitants of Longyearbyen, through four research questions. The method utilized in this master thesis is one of embedded single-case design, with an explorative abductive approach. The method utilized in the data collection is a methodological triangulation. The empirical chapter is based on fieldwork, quantitative survey, qualitative interviews and document study.

The major empirical findings suggests that the authorities in Longyearbyen have a strong foundation for short-term risk communication, where the foundation is utilized to focus on snow avalanche related risk communication. This enables a well working short-term risk communication for the risk of snow avalanche in Longyearbyen but leaves little to no attention for short-term risk communication regarding the risk of flooding, debris flow & rockfall in Longyearbyen. Likewise, the authorities have a strong foundation for long-term risk communication. It has been identified that their long-term risk communication focuses on snow avalanche leaving little to no attention to the risk of flooding, debris flow & rockfall in Longyearbyen. Additionally, the authorities’ webpages are formulated in an academic way, creating a barrier for ordinary inhabitant to both read and understand it, transforming the content from information to documentation.

This master thesis concludes that the authorities in Longyearbyen have a strong foundation for both short-term and long-term risk communication, but its focus on snow avalanche risk communication increases the inhabitant’s reliance on society-wide networks such as webpages for information regarding other climate-related hazard risks flooding, debris flow & rockfall. The authorities are also not adequately advertising this information, reducing the awareness of such information, as well as the information being formulated in an academic way, resulting in the content transforming from information to documentation. This master thesis highlights three recommendation which could be implemented to improve the long-term risk communication of the risk of flooding, debris flow & rockfall in Longyearbyen, which overall would improve the authorities overall risk communication of climate-related hazard risks in Longyearbyen.