Mapping urban residents’ vulnerability to heat in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

The land use/land cover of the district of Cocody in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, is under substantial pressure associated with ´fast urbanization. This study conducts a detailed analysis of the impact of the changing land use/land cover in Cocody by assessing inhabitants’ social vulnerability to heat. The approach was based on integrated methods: remote sensing-based analysis of urban land cover helped to analyze the urbanization dynamic, while indicator-based analysis, through the integrated theoretical MOVE framework, helped to define vulnerability and identify indicators. Both methods combined allowed an analysis of the social vulnerability of Cocody inhabitants to extreme heat conditions. The results reveal that Cocody is experiencing rapid land use/land cover change dominated by rapid growth of buildings and a noticeable decrease in the natural environment. Cocody is highly vulnerable to extreme heat conditions, which could be aggravated by its increasing population, with a high percentage of children under five years of age (11.31%). Creating more green spaces is therefore recommended in the more susceptible areas to counter the harmful effects of the changing climate.