Description:
"Vulnerability is the degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with, the adverse
effects of climate change, including climate variability and extremes. This notion is used to describe
socio-economic, physical and environmental factors, which determine the sensitivity/susceptibility
of a country, town, community or individual to the impact of climate change (e.g. change in seasonal
patterns) and/or hazard (e.g. flood).
For example, socio-economic factors of vulnerability are poverty, low level of awareness on climate
change, and dependence on climate-sensitive agricultural production. Land degradation and
unsustainable natural resources management are environmental factors of vulnerability. For
instance, cutting mangroves in populated coastal areas increases the vulnerability of communities
because mangroves help in reducing wind speed, flooding and coastal erosion. Physical vulnerability
relates to the state of infrastructure and human settlements.
Countries and communities are more vulnerable when they have low adaptive capacity. The latter
specifies their ability to adjust to climate change (including to climate variability and extremes) and
moderate or cope with its potential negative impacts. Adaptive capacity also relates to the ability of
people to take advantage of opportunities and benefits from climate change. For example, a longer
growing season due to changing climate offers opportunity to farmers to increase their income.
However, their adaptive capacity is often constrained by the limited access to knowledge and
technology on how to increase their production under longer growing season conditions.
Adaptation to climate change aims at reducing vulnerability and building climate resilience. Climate
resilience is the ability of a system to (i) absorb stress and cope with climate change and hazards,
including maintaining its basic structure, functions and adaptive capacity, and (ii) recover, adapt and
transform in ways that improve its sustainability, leaving it better prepared for future climate change
impacts. In this context, climate-resilient development of townships of Myanmar suggests
development that ensures townships' ability to cope with current climate and its impact and to
adapt to future climate change, by preserving development gains and minimising damages..."
Source/publisher:
HABITAT (United Nations Centre for Human Settlements)
Date of Publication:
2019-03-26
Date of entry:
2019-07-14
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Countries:
Myanmar
Language:
English
Local URL:
Format:
pdf
Size:
2.21 MB
Resource Type:
text
Text quality:
- Good