Understanding vulnerability : increasing adaptive capacity and resilience among the most vulnerable to climate change effects and disasters

Abstract

Climate impacts are a compound effect combining direct impacts, indirect impacts and pre-existing vulnerabilities. The presentation expands on the complexities of vulnerability in South Asia where ecological-environmental vulnerabilities intersect with socio-political-ecological vulnerabilities (at meso/macro levels). And where peri-/urban growth/urbanization, poverty and inequality, governance/institutional levels in turn interact with socio-political-ecological vulnerabilities. In addition, vulnerabilities at household, family community/commune levels interact with age and socio-economic status (income, occupation, education, gender, health). Adaptability studies need to address these complex inter-relationships.