Determination of Areas Vulnerable to Climate Change Due to Spatial Structure Characteristics, Izmir

Cities are the human settlements most affected by the adverse effects of climate change. Therefore, an important part of the adaptation policy implemented in the context of addressing climate change focuses on cities. In addition, creating an adaptation-oriented urban planning process has become one of the most important strategies. People living in urban areas may face many risks, such as illness and deaths caused by disasters that are the result of climate change. There are many factors that make the urban population vulnerable to these risks. Spatial structure characteristics are one of these factors. The identification of districts most susceptible to the effects of climate change as a result of spatial structure characteristics is very important for urban adaptation policies. Flooding and overflow problems caused by excessive precipitation and sea level rise due to climate change are the basis of this research to identify areas most at risk in the city of Izmir. The primary spatial factors that increase vulnerability to the threats of excessive precipitation and sea level rise were identified and the zones most at risk based on building characteristics and development were determined. Five levels of risk were assigned. The results and methodology can be used to contribute to adaptation-based urban policies, determine priority intervention zones in urbanized areas, and question the land use decisions in current plans