Date of Award
Summer 8-22-2026
Document Type
Masters Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in Geography
Organizational Unit
College of Natural Science and Mathematics, Geography and the Environment
First Advisor
Hanson Nyantakyi-Frimpong
Second Advisor
Kristopher Kuzera
Third Advisor
Guiming Zhang
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
All Rights Reserved.
Keywords
Climate, Displacement, Environmental justice, Vulnerability, Vulnerability assessments, Washington State
Abstract
Climate change is increasing the frequency of natural hazards and the risk of migration and displacement for vulnerable populations. Despite growing environmental justice (EJ) research on unequal exposure, limited studies examine the compounding exposure of climate displacement vulnerability, gentrification pressures, and public health burdens through place-based indicators. This study develops a Climate Displacement Social Vulnerability (CDSV) index and related spatial indices to identify compounding climate displacement vulnerability by examining the interaction among social vulnerability, neighborhood change, hazard exposure, and public health burdens in Washington State. Integrated demographic, socioeconomic, neighborhood, and accessibility indicators are analyzed using GIS, statistical correlation, and ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions. Results indicate compounding spatial exposure to climate displacement vulnerability, gentrification pressures, and health burdens in Washington. The proposed methodology and GIS framework are presented as a replicable approach for future place-based EJ assessments across the United States and other vulnerable regions.
Copyright Date
8-2026
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Myawna Moore
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
111 pgs
File Size
9.1 MB
Recommended Citation
Moore, Myawna, "Mapping Compounding Climate Displacement Vulnerability in Washington State: A Proposed Place-Based Environmental Justice Framework" (2026). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2791.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/2791
Included in
Environmental Studies Commons, Geographic Information Sciences Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Social Justice Commons