1. Vulnerability, Resilience, and Adaptation in the IPCC framework Vulnerabilities of the Carbon- Climate-Human System Patricia Romero Lankao Paris, June 2005

2. Goal Characterize “vulnerability” related concepts used by the IPCC community to: a)Underscore commonalities and differences in language/approach between both IPCC and Carbon communities b)Explore venues for an approach integrating socio – natural spheres and interactions between their components (a not well developed area of research)

3. IPCC’s approach: vulnerability (adaptation) One definition 1, propensity of groups, systems, persons to suffer harm, (anticipate), cope with, resist and recover from impacts of CC and other stressors 2 Context (locality) specific (scale matters) 3 Depends on adaptive capacity, sensitivity and exposure to the impacts of CC, also related to the distribution of sources and prior stressors (history of group, system, …) Key research issue: understanding its (social and natural) causal and internal dimensions (coping actions) (multiple disciplines)

4. IPCC’s approach, adaptive capacity Ability of a “system” or group to evolve to accommodate CC or expand range of variability with which it can cope Vector of resources and assets representing a resource to draw on to undertake adaptation Unevenly distributed, related to: assets 1 available to cope with CC, distribution of resources within a population, and institutions mediating exposures and coping with climate change

5. IPCC’s approach: resilience Capacity for positive adaptation despite adversity 1 Three features of socio-ecological resilience relevant for an approach integrating socio – natural spheres : a) ability to buffer disturbance, b) capability to self-organize, and adaptation c) capacity for learning and learning how to learn, for communicating 2

6. A new approach to vulnerability Multidisciplinary, recognizing that V: Caused by socio-natural interactions and a property of natural and human systems Two dimensions: external (structural) and internal (agency) Related to multiple stressors operating at diverse scales Scale dependant Demanding hence alternative tools (e.g. vulnerability assessments)