Putting vulnerability to climate change on the map: a review of approaches, benefits, and risks

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2011 · Sustainability Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-011-0129-1· OSTI ID:1018651

Preston, Benjamin L ^[1]

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1. ORNL

There is growing demand among stakeholders across public and private institutions for spatially-explicit information regarding vulnerability to climate change at the local scale. However, the challenges associated with mapping the geography of climate change vulnerability are non-trivial, both conceptually and technically, suggesting the need for more critical evaluation of this practice. Here, we review climate change vulnerability mapping in the context of four key questions that are fundamental to assessment design. First, what are the goals of the assessment? A review of published assessments yields a range of objective statements that emphasize problem orientation or decision-making about adaptation actions. Second, how is the assessment of vulnerability framed? Assessments vary with respect to what values are assessed (vulnerability of what) and the underlying determinants of vulnerability that are considered (vulnerability to what). The selected frame ultimately influences perceptions of the primary driving forces of vulnerability as well as preferences regarding management alternatives. Third, what are the technical methods by which an assessment is conducted? The integration of vulnerability determinants into a common map remains an emergent and subjective practice associated with a number of methodological challenges. Fourth, who participates in the assessment and how will it be used to facilitate change? Assessments are often conducted under the auspices of benefiting stakeholders, yet many lack direct engagement with stakeholders. Each of these questions is reviewed in turn by drawing on an illustrative set of 45 vulnerability mapping studies appearing in the literature. A number of pathways for placing vulnerability

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: ORNL LDRD Director's R&D
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1018651
• Journal Information: Sustainability Science, Journal Name: Sustainability Science Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 6; ISSN 1862-4065
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CLIMATES
CLIMATIC CHANGE
DECISION MAKING
DESIGN
EVALUATION
GEOGRAPHY
MANAGEMENT
ORIENTATION
VULNERABILITY
adaptation
climate change
geography
mapping
vulnerability