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

Abstract

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?more » 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« less

Authors:
 [1]
  1. ORNL
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
OSTI Identifier:
1018651
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Sustainability Science
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 6; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 1862--4065
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; CLIMATIC CHANGE; CLIMATES; DECISION MAKING; DESIGN; EVALUATION; GEOGRAPHY; MANAGEMENT; ORIENTATION; VULNERABILITY; climate change; adaptation; geography; mapping; vulnerability

Citation Formats

Preston, Benjamin L. Putting vulnerability to climate change on the map: a review of approaches, benefits, and risks. United States: N. p., 2011. Web. doi:10.1007/s11625-011-0129-1.
Preston, Benjamin L. Putting vulnerability to climate change on the map: a review of approaches, benefits, and risks. United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-011-0129-1
Preston, Benjamin L. 2011. "Putting vulnerability to climate change on the map: a review of approaches, benefits, and risks". United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-011-0129-1.
@article{osti_1018651,
title = {Putting vulnerability to climate change on the map: a review of approaches, benefits, and risks},
author = {Preston, Benjamin L},
abstractNote = {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},
doi = {10.1007/s11625-011-0129-1},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1018651}, journal = {Sustainability Science},
issn = {1862--4065},
number = 2,
volume = 6,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2011},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2011}
}