Mapping Vulnerability
Understanding why some are more susceptible to climate impacts
Your Progress
Section 3 of 5Step 2: Assess Who and What Is Vulnerable
Vulnerability is not uniform. The same hazard affects different people, places, and systems differently.
Key Concept: Differential Vulnerability
A heat wave in a wealthy neighborhood with air conditioning, tree canopy, and access to healthcare has far less impact than the same heat wave in a low-income neighborhood with poor housing, no AC, limited green space, and elderly residents with chronic illness. Same hazard, vastly different vulnerability.
Multi-Dimensional Vulnerability Assessment
Building quality, infrastructure age, protective systems
Demographics, health, education, social networks
Income, employment, insurance, financial reserves
Ecosystem health, natural buffers, resource availability
Governance, planning, emergency response, enforcement
Physical Infrastructure
- • Building codes
- • Flood defenses
Social Factors
- • Age distribution
- • Health status
Economic Capacity
- • Income levels
- • Employment diversity
Environmental Context
- • Wetlands/forests
- • Soil quality
Institutional Strength
- • Planning capacity
- • Emergency services
Vulnerability Assessment Methods
📊 Indicator-Based Assessment
Use quantitative indicators to measure vulnerability dimensions:
🗺️ Spatial Mapping
Overlay vulnerability indicators with hazard maps using GIS:
- Combine flood zones with socioeconomic data to identify vulnerable populations
- Map critical infrastructure (hospitals, shelters) against hazard exposure
- Identify hotspots where high hazard + high vulnerability = high risk
- Tools: ArcGIS, QGIS, Climate Explorer, FEMA flood maps
💬 Participatory Assessment
Engage communities to understand lived vulnerability:
- Focus groups: What barriers prevent people from adapting?
- Surveys: Self-reported capacity, concerns, priorities
- Community mapping: Residents identify local vulnerabilities experts miss
- Historical narratives: How did past events affect different groups?
⚠️ Common Pitfall: Average Vulnerability
Reporting average vulnerability for a region obscures critical inequality. A city with average moderate vulnerability might have wealthy areas with low vulnerability and marginalized neighborhoods with extreme vulnerability. Always disaggregate by relevant social categories (income, age, race, location) to identify who needs targeted support.