ISSN (Online) : 2455 - 3662 SJIF Impact Factor :5.148 EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research Monthly Peer Reviewed & Indexed International Online Journal Volume: 5 Issue: 2 February 2019 Published By :EPRA Publishing CC License Volume: 5 | Issue: 2 | February 2019 || SJIF Impact Factor: 5.148 ISSN (Online): 2455-3662 EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) Peer Reviewed Journal ADAPTATING TO SEA LEVEL RISE AND ITS BEHAVIOURAL MODEL OF COASTAL COMMUNITY IN SELANGOR, MALAYSIA Noorazuan Md Hashim Yaakub Mohd Jani Social, Environmental and Developmental Social, Environmental and Developmental Sustainability Research Centre (SEEDS), Sustainability Research Centre (SEEDS), The National University of Malaysia, The National University of Malaysia, UKM Bangi, UKM Bangi, Malaysia Malaysia ABSTRACT One of the challenges in disaster management of coastal communities in Malaysia is to strengthening resilience among the vulnerable residents which exposed to environmental hazards. The discussion regarding community environments’ on adaptation capabilities are still in debate by the social researchers, both local and oversea.Thus, the study aims to determine the adaptation behavioural model of coastal community in Selangor so that factors can be identified and properly controlled in order to achieve the goal of sustainable development. Theoretically, adaptation behavior is determined by four main factors, namely knowledge, awareness, perception of sea level rise and also socio-economic factors of coastal community. The study involved 1050 respondents determined by stratified random sampling. Data obtained through structured interview were analyzed using the Structured Equation Model (SEM) method. The findings show that aspects of community’s education background, awareness and population as well as socioeconomic aspects have a positive impact on the adaptation practices of the coastal population. RMSEA, RMSR and CFI values have also shown good model criteria and are considered to be appropriate and acceptable. It is found that the construct of knowledge, awareness and perception has shown a high correlation value (r> 0.900, p = 0.05). The socioeconomic factors of population are considered very important in giving a positive impact on adaptation practices towards action to the catastrophic sea level rise. It is proposed that the level of knowledge and socioeconomics of the community should be improved by the authorities to reduce the level of their vulnerability. KEYWORDS: disaster management, climate change, sea level rising, floods, groundwater www.eprajournals.com Volume: 5| Issue: 2 | February 2019 7 EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) | ISSN (Online): 2455 -3662 | SJIF Impact Factor: 5.148 INTRODUCTION activities. Studies done by IPI (2015) found that the sea Sea level rise is the greatest hazard resulting level rise could have negative impacts such as damage from the global climate change. Malaysia is a maritime to transport networks, residential buildings and natural country in South East Asia that is exposed to such ecosystems, especially mangrove vegetation coverage. disaster. With a substantial elongated coastline, According to UNDP (2004), countries located in the Malaysia has a high potential of vulnerability due to Asia Pacific region are vulnerable to climate change sea level rise. According to Nor Aslinda and Mohd disasters such as flash floods, droughts and sea level Radzi (2013), Malaysia may experienced the rising in rise. Approximately by the year 2100, the number of sea level which is above from average value of global Malaysians affected by sea level rise is about 1.5 forecast. Hence, study on the implications of sea level million people, including in Sabah and Sarawak rise among coastal communities is considered very (Ahmad Jamaluddin 2008). The impacts, threats and significant. risks of rising sea levels not only affected to the nearby Although, the state of Selangor is not severely population, but these could also affected natural and susceptible to the sea level rising as compared to other mad made ecosystems. states in the Peninsular (NAHRIM, 2010), however, it In societal context, there are three key elements is better to plan effective programme due to that could be affected the degree of vulnerability; uncertainty of climate change in future. It is timely to namely the sensitivity to disaster, the resilience and study the level of understanding and community’s ability to adapt to the disasters. The vulnerability to adaptation to the disaster of sea level rise in order to disaster is highly dependent on the frequency and increase resilience towards the impact. The purpose of magnitude of disasters, for example the occurences of this study is to determine the relationship between the extreme climate events. According to Cutter (1994) perception and attitude of the coastal community, and and Dombrowski (1998), the level of sensitivity, their adaptability to minimize the adverse effects of the resilience and community adaptation to the disaster is disaster. The Structured Equation Model (SEM) an abstract and difficult to measure. analysis that incorporates factor analysis and multi Hence, the most ideal measuring device is to regression analysis will be used in this study to identify design appropriate questions to identify their community’s adaptation towards sea level rise in individuals and communities' perceptions and Selangor. responses to climate change issues and these are very RESEARCH BACKGROUND significant factors in determining policy planning and Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, environmental disaster preparedness programs. The methane and ozone that released into the atmosphere aspect of community’s adaptation is totally different cause the earth's surface temperature to rise over time. from one place to another (Blaikie et al., 1994). It Uncontrolled increment of these gases enhanced relies heavily on the three elements mentioned atmospheric heat absorption that lead to global above,i.e. the relationship between sensitivity- warming. The atmospheric warming will also increase resistance-adaptability. Measurements of these three the thermal energy of the ocean that ultimately rising elements are subjective and sometimes the the sea level (Hansen, 2013). Sea level rise is occurring measurement is done by combining various items or faster than expected, and even a small or minor variables that form an index. Sometimes, researchers increment of sea-level poses devastating effect on are required to develop a detail survey framework to ecosystems and coastal settlements. The overflowing produce sufficient data in order to assess the seawater will certainly cause coastal erosion, polluting vulnerability of the community. groundwater system and loss of habitat of birds, fish Rasch (2015) states that perception of and inundating lowland agricultural area. environmental risk plays a crucial role in Hundreds of urban settlements as well as understanding and interpretating the community’s agricultural areas will be exposed to floods and views in adapting to catastrophic conditions such as possibly causing millions of people to lose their homes sea level rise. According to Cutter et al. (2009) and and jobs. The recent scientific prediction has Rasch (2015), the socioeconomic factors of population confirmed that global warming will continue to worsen could be also affect the aspect of their adaptability. Nor and adversely affecting the world (The Lancet, 2017). Haniah et al. (2017) has discussed details of socio- The sea level is expected to continue to increase over economic elements of the communities that are able to time and the change is unpredictable. The impact study influence the level of vulnerability and the ability to of sea level rise on coastal settlements is important adapt to the disaster in Malaysia. effort in order to safeguard this densely population region as well as to maintain fishery and maritime www.eprajournals.com Volume: 5| Issue: 2 | February 2019 8 EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) | ISSN (Online): 2455 -3662 | SJIF Impact Factor: 5.148 STUDY AREA AND METHODOLOGY ten main coastal zone areas, from Bagan Nakhoda The approach of this study is based on Omar, Sabak Bernam to Tanjung Sepat, Kuala Langat explorative perspective, i.e the measurement of human Selangor (Table 1 and Figure 1). A field survey was perception of knowledge and awareness and in-depth conducted in mid-March until early April 2017 and a assessment of the main groups of coastal fishermen on pilot study using 35 early respondents, especially in adaptation due to sea level rise. The general survey areas around Kuala Langat, Selangor, was used to method is used with specially designed questionnaires identify the reliability of information collected. The as well as the technique of interviewing the selected Cronbach Alpha value derived from the pilot study was informants in the study area. A total of 1050 CA = 0.823. respondents were selected randomly in a survey within Table 1. Distribution of respondents in the study area No Area Name No of Respondent Percentage 1. Tg Sepat 296 28.2 2. Kg. Batu Laut 224 21.3 3. Bagan Sg Janggut 39 3.7 4. Pantai Jeram 40 3.8 5. Bagan Pasir 80 7.6 6. Sungai Nibong 70 6.7 7. Kg. Hj. Dorani 122 11.6 8. Bagan Sungai Burong 45 4.3 9. Sungai Burong 94 9.0 10. Bagan Nakhoda Omar 40 3.8 Total 1050 100 Fig 1. The study area www.eprajournals.com Volume: 5| Issue: 2 | February 2019 9 EPRA International