An Analysis of Risk Communication for Extreme Temperatures and Potential Benefit for Early Warning: A Case Study of Cardiovascular Disease

• Main Authors: Wan-Ling Chiu, 邱皖聆
• Other Authors: Ching-Cheng Chang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2019
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/td5mqm

碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 農業經濟學研究所 === 107 === Climate change has caused extreme temperature phenomena to occur more frequently, leading to an increase in temperature-related mortality and illness worldwide. The elderly and people with cardiovascular-related diseases are especially vulnerable. Many governments introduced the high-temperature early warning systems to provide the general public with timely forecast information to help them adapt effectively. This study uses the survey data of "Emergency Benefits Assessment and Risk Communication of Early Warning and Health Risk Management: A Case Study of Cardiovascular Disease" administered by the Academia Sinica to identify key factors influencing health risk awareness and adaptation. The results show that health risk awareness was affected by age, cardiovascular illness experience, knowledge of cardiovascular illness, cognition and sensitivity to temperature change. The adaptation behavior was found to be influenced by the health risk awareness and those who have air conditioning at home. In addition, this study uses the double-bounded dichotomous choice model of contingent valuation method to evaluate the potential economic benefits of early warning systems. The results found that peoples’ willingness to pay was 345 NTD per capita annually. Multiplied the sample mean by the population of 19 million in Taiwan, the total benefits are estimated to be 7 billion NTD per year. The factors influencing willingness to pay are health risk awareness, age, and occupation. The results can be used as a reference for establishing early warning system and formulating relevant strategies for climate change adaptation.