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A variety of definitions exist for Vulnerability according to the specific context. The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR 2009), for example, defines vulnerability as the characteristics and circumstances of a community, system or asset that make it susceptible to the damaging effects of a hazard. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change defines vulnerability to climate change as the degree to which a system is susceptible to, and unable to cope with, adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extremes. Vulnerability is a function of the character, magnitude, and rate of climate change and variation to which a system is exposed, its sensitivity, and its adaptive capacity (IPCC, Bernstein, et al. 2008). While being aware of the different definitions and concepts of vulnerability, we do not use a specific definition or concept stringently in this report but rather use the term in a more generic way (EEA 2012c; EEA (report under preparation) 2012b) (see also Figure 3.3).

Figure 3.3 Conceptual schemes of the components of vulnerability in relation to water scarcity and floods

Source: adapted from Füssel and Klein 2006; Metzger et al. 2006; Uyttendaele et al. 2011

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  • vanneru (Rudy Vannevel) 20 Aug 2012 14:08:07

    Fig. 3.3 shows the case of Sectoral sensitivity to ecosystem exposure, which is in fact a secondary impact. The primary impact, ES sensitivity subjected to sectoral exposure, is not shown. The figure should include both interactions.

    • vannewou (Wouter Vanneuville) 22 Aug 2012 11:56:37

      Fig. 3.3 shows the case of Sectoral sensitivity to ecosystem exposure, which is in fact a secondary impact. The primary impact, ES sensitivity subjected to sectoral exposure, is not shown. The figure should include both interactions.

      additional arrow will be added

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