HCI for Climate Resilience: Developing an Individual and Community Focused Framework through a Grounded Theory Approach

Natural hazards, such as floods and wildfires, increasingly impact our lives severely, requiring everyone living in risk areas to become climate resilient. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research has explored climate change and sustainable user behavior but has yet to understand its role in developing and maintaining climate resilience. We approach the gap with a Grounded Theory approach, conducting 16 semi-structured expert interviews to understand individuals' and communities' ongoing challenges and needs and the role of technology in developing climate resilience. Results show that technology is deeply entangled in the process and both supports and hinders factors for communicating, engaging, and empowering communities and individuals. Our work contributes to defining and structuring HCI's role in individuals' and communities' climate resilience with the framework HCI for Climate Resilience of Individuals and Communities. Additionally, we highlight open research and interdisciplinary collaboration opportunities to approach, maintain, and increase climate resilience from the bottom up.