Socio-environmental vulnerability in the Metropolis of São Paulo, Brazil: a socio-demographic analysis of spatial coexistence of social and environmental risks and problems

Abstract

The objective of this article is to identify and analyze population groups living in situations of socio-environmental vulnerability in São Paulo, by constructing environmental indicators on a disaggregated scale. We define socio-environmental vulnerability as the spatial coexistence of high social vulnerability together with areas of environmental risk and deterioration. The methodology is based on a Geographical Information System (GIS) that provides information on the network of waterways and the layers of the census tracts in the municipality of São Paulo. We first identify the census tracts that show high social vulnerability, using a Social Vulnerability Map (CEM-CEBRAP / SAS-PMSP, 2004). Next we select the census tracts that are near watercourses, have low sewage treatment, and are near areas with high environmental vulnerability. The results show significant differences in socioeconomic and demographic conditions among the various categories of environmental vulnerability.