climate vulnerability

Climate Vulnerability: Describes the ways in which a person, community, or social system (a receptor) is susceptible to sustaining harm or damage (impact) as a result of climate change. Climate vulnerability is a function of (i) climate-related changes in conditions that are experienced by a receptor, and (ii) the receptor’s sensitivity to experiencing impacts as a result of those changing conditions. Climate vulnerability is related to physical factors (e.g., whether a community is likely to experience increases in the frequency of dangerously high heat events, or to be flooded during more frequent or intense storms) as well as social and economic factors (Climate Justice Working Group, Advancing Climate Justice in California: Guiding Principles and Recommendations for Policy and Funding Decisions 2017)