Theory and practice in assessing vulnerability to climate change and facilitating adaptation

We discuss approaches to the assessment of vulnerability to climate variabi lity and change and attempt to clarify the relationship between the concept s of vulnerability and adaptation. In search of a robust, policy-relevant f ramework, we define vulnerability in terms of the capacity of individuals a nd social groups to respond to, that is, to cope with, recover from or adap t to, any external stress placed on their livelihoods and well-being. The a pproach that we develop places the social and economic well-being of societ y at the centre of the analysis, focussing on the socio-economic and instit utional constraints that limit the capacity to respond. From this perspecti ve, the vulnerability or security of any group is determined by resource av ailability and by the entitlement of individuals and groups to call on thes e resources. We illustrate the application of this approach through the res ults of field research in coastal Vietnam, highlighting shifting patterns o f vulnerability to tropical storm impacts at the household- and community-l evel in response to the current process of economic renovation and drawing conclusions concerning means of supporting the adaptive response to climate stress. Four priorities for action are identified that would improve the s ituation of the most exposed members of many communities: poverty reduction ; risk-spreading through income diversification; respecting common property management rights; and promoting collective security. A sustainable respon se, we argue, must also address the underlying causes of social vulnerabili ty, including the inequitable distribution of resources.