Climate & Environment
Vulnerability Assessment
Definition
A vulnerability assessment is the systematic process of identifying, quantifying and prioritising vulnerabilities to climate and other hazards in a population, sector, ecosystem or asset base: analysing exposure (what is in harm's way), sensitivity (how affected it would be) and adaptive capacity (resources to cope), using climate projections, socio-economic data and participatory methods. It is the prescribed first step of adaptation planning — national adaptation plans, local strategies, corporate physical risk analysis all begin here.
References
This reference provides supporting context for how “Vulnerability Assessment” is defined and used.
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Overview
How it is used
The method structures national adaptation plan development, city resilience strategies, humanitarian planning, and corporate TCFD/ISSB physical risk disclosure.
Why it matters
Adaptation without assessment is guesswork with budget; the vulnerability assessment is where climate response becomes evidence-based.