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Compendium on methods and tools to evaluate impacts of, and vulnerability and adaptation to, climate
change
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Vulnerability Indices
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Description
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Formal vulnerability indices can be helpful as part of an adaptation strategy. Vulnerability is
defined by the IPCC as the combination of sensitivity to climatic variations, the probability of
adverse climate change, and adaptive capacity. For each of these components of vulnerability,
formal indices can be constructed and combined.
Methods of aggregating across sectors and scales have been developed in other contexts (e.g., the
Human Development Index) and are beginning to be applied to climate change. However, substantial
methodological challenges remain — in particular estimating the risk of adverse climate
change impacts and interpreting relative vulnerability across diverse situation.
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Appropriate Use
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They can help identify and target vulnerable regions, sectors or populations, raise awareness, and
can contribute to a monitoring strategy. In general stakeholder approaches are oriented toward
research teams that support policy making. They help set the framework for evaluating specific
measures, and thus from an early part of the decision process, as well as helping to monitor
capability over a longer term.
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Scope
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Global, but most appropriate at national or local level.
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Key Output
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Matrices of vulnerability indexes, vulnerability maps.
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Key Input
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A mixture of quantitative and qualitative data depending on actual tools employed in the approach.
Examples of vulnerability indices are commonly available, including the Southeast Asia Environmental
Framework (contact Vikrom Mathur at the SEI: http://www.sei.se) and
food security scenarios for South Africa and India (contact Tom Downing at the SEI).
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Ease of Use
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Varies, but application of some tools requires specialist training in policy analysis. Some can be
readily adopted by practitioners.
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Training Required
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Some training is useful, but expertise in policy analysis is more important than specific analytical
techniques.
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Training Available
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A number of groups offer training in vulnerability assessment particularly related to disasters. The
Vulnerability Network led by the SEI maintains a web site with discussion forums, a document hotel,
and bibliographies: see http://www.vulnerabilitynet.org.
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Computer Requirements
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Computer access
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Documentation
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UNEP has sponsored a project to review formal vulnerability indices and a background paper has been
prepared. A summary of the key issues is available as a PowerPoint presentation on the ECI website
(see publications at http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/). See also the
Technical Paper 3 of the Adaptation Policy Framework at http://ncsp.undp.org/report_detail.cfm?Projectid=151.
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Applications
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Vulnerability indices have been used by the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies in Dhaka, South
Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission, Association of Small Island States, and Battelle Pacific
Northwest Laboratory. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research has developed an analogous
approach on environmental syndromes.
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Contacts for Framework, Documentation, Technical Assistance
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Dr. Thomas Downing, Stockholm Environment Institute, Oxford Office, 10B Littlegate Street, Oxford,
OX1 1QT, United Kingdom; Tel: +.44.1865.202070, e-mail: tom.downing@sei.se.
Dr. Antoinette Brenkert, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Joint Global Change Research
Institute at the University of Maryland, 8400 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 201, College Park, MD
20740-2496, USA; Tel: +1.301.314.6759; Fax: +1.301.314.6760; e-mail:antoinette.brenkert@pnl.gov.
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Cost
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No cost
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References
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Downing, T. et al. 2001. Vulnerability indices. Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation. UNEP, Policy
Series 3: 91 pp. (available at
http://www.sei.e-collaboration.co.uk/OPMS/view.php?site=seiproject&bn=seiproject_hotel&key=1097073874).
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