Understanding vulnerability in coastal and estuary areas : background research paper

Abstract

This background paper explores vulnerability in coastal areas or estuaries, with a focus on enhancing adaptive capacity. “Vulnerability” may refer to the vulnerable system itself, or to the impact on a given system, such as flooding in low-lying coastal cities. The projects in this report identified socio-ecological variables in order to improve understanding of vulnerabilities in coastal zone areas, with vulnerability seen as not strictly related to climate, but bound up with socio-economic and developmental processes. The research projects provide insights into a set of inter-relationships involving actors and processes, at a wide range of scales and locales.

Description

A Synthesis of Discussions from the “Research on Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal and Delta Areas” workshop, co-hosted by Universidad do Pará and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
IDRC would like to acknowledge the following people for their contributions to this background paper: Abdrabo, Mohamed; Almansi, Florencia; Almeida, Oriana; Bidegain, Mario; Caffera, Mario; Cartwright, Anton; Conde, Daniel; Deadman, Peter; Fernandes, Katia; Khan, Muhammad Shah Alam; Kumar, Ritesh; Martinez, Alejandra; Rivero, Sergio; Santibañez, Paula; Takahashi, Ken; and Vogt, Nathan.

Keywords

CLIMATE CHANGE, ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE, GLOBAL SOUTH, COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT, VULNERABILITY, ADAPTIVE CAPACITY, SEA LEVEL RISE, FLOODS, LEADERSHIP, LOCAL LEVEL, DELTAS

Citation

DOI