Architecture, as a tool to raise awareness to climate change and sea level rise: case of Libyan coastal city of Zuwara

Abstract

The effects of climate change are no longer just a possibility we will face in the future. Droughts, wildfires, storms, sea surges, and much more, are climate change-related risks that communities around the world are facing today, coastal communities are particularly under the risk of floods and sea-level rise, but how aware are these communities of these threats? This study sets out to assess social awareness to climate change amongst the residents of the coastal Libyan city of Zuwara, which faces the risk of floods and sea level rise (SLR). The awareness level of the society about the factors of climate change can create significant barrier in front of mitigation and adaptation process. From this point of view, the study suggests that using a tool that publicly understandable and having familiarity with can have a greater impact on the level of awareness. Therefore, it has been focused on the role of architecture as a tool to raise awareness of the risks of climate change. The research methodology relies on a case study with future projections regarding Sea level rise (SLR) under different Representative concentration pathway (RCP), and a social survey designed in three stages: First step is measuring the level of awareness of residents of the city, then in the second attempt to rise it using architecture as an educative tool, and finally re-measuring the level of awareness in order to test the effectiveness of architecture as proposed tool. The questionnaire was distributed online to a sample of 100 people including participants who are of professional backgrounds in architecture and built environment. Statistical analysis of the questionnaire was divided into two stages, first, measuring the level of general awareness of the respondents about their living environment and climate change, then measuring the level of improvement in awareness about climate change during the survey.  The second section of the questionnaire was formulated based on Likert scale, and to test the study’s hypotheses, (T - Test) and Independent Samples Test, were used. Survey results have shown an increase in the degree of awareness between participants when comparing answers before stage two and after, suggesting that using architecture as an educative tool to raise awareness about climate change; is effective.