Abstract: Vulnerability is assessed in many different scientific and policy contexts but there is considerable debate around concepts, terminology, and suitable assessment approaches. In this presentation, I explain the roots of the conceptual confusion around vulnerability in the climate change community and I present a conceptual framework that facilitates overcoming it. I then review how climate change impact, vulnerability, and adaptation assessment have evolved in parallel with changes of the political agenda. Finally, I discuss the scientific and ethical challenges of applying global vulnerability assessments to establish priorities for international adaptation funding.

Paper: Copies of Hans Füssel's paper are available upon request by writing to Marsha Dunlap: .

Abstract: Proposed climate change mitigation policy mechanisms such as Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation would have the rural poor selling carbon sequestered by their forests on the international market. I examine the community-level impacts of the national payments for ecosystem services programs in Mexico that are being used as a prototype for the development of these “pro-poor” mitigation schemes. I found that, more than program design, pre-existing local governance patterns, level of active forest management, and links with external social and economic networks greatly influenced the way in which the programs were implemented and their economic and ecological impacts. These results suggest that there are costs and conditions associated with implementing forest based mitigation schemes that are currently unaccounted for in policy discussions but which may enormously influence the ability of these programs to positively and equitably impact vulnerable rural communities.

Paper: Copies of Elizabeth Shapiro's paper are available upon request by writing to Marsha Dunlap: .

Abstract: The yawning gap that exists between science and policy has remained a perplexing problem for decades, and has drawn much attention from both and scientific and decisionmaking worlds. The continuing tendency for major scientific and assessment reports to sit on the shelf unused and unread by decisionmakers has been noted by many. Yet prescriptions for how to overcome this gap have been few and ineffective. In particular, it is clear, as a result of this two-year project, that the gap remains both nationally and internationally. This discussion addresses the major barriers that exist between science and practice, how they come into play, and how they might be overcome. Attention is given to the "spider webs" that exist between science and practice and how they shape and reshape the nature of scientific findings relevant to practice. The role of boundary organizations as a potential remedy is examined. Examples are drawn from experience with natural disasters and climate change.

Paper: To be posted.

Abstract: Tremendous strides have been made over recent years in improving scientific understanding of the human processes driving global climate change and the likely impacts on world ecosystems. What is much less well understood is how these dynamics in the physical environment will interact with those of socio-economic systems, what the consequences will be for society, and how best to address them. Framing climate change as an issue of social justice, this presentation highlights equity and vulnerability as central organizing themes of a previously neglected agenda around the social dimensions of climate change. It highlights the relevance of these themes for the design and implementation of measures to respond to climate change within developing countries, and provides an overview of ongoing work at the World Bank to help support pro-poor outcomes from such efforts.

Paper: Copies of Robin Mearns' paper are available upon request by writing to Marsha Dunlap: .

Abstract: Whose security counts? The current debate on climate change as a security risk assumes that the impact of climate change will be beyond the adaptive capacities of many societies. This will cause violent conflicts within and between states and will lead to massive destabilizations of entire regions or even to “climate wars”. Against the background of current conflicts around water, food and health in India, the presentation argues that it is not primarily the security concerns of the affluent countries which count. It is rather the “human security” of the poorest in developing countries which is at stake. Violence sparked by climate change is violence against those populations who will be most exposed to the impacts of climate change, and have the least capacities to cope and adapt. From this perspective, climate change is a security risk which threatens “human security” and exerts “structural violence” on the most vulnerable. Whose security counts? This is a challenge for human geography to develop analytical tools which can grasp the interface between global risks and local vulnerabilities in the face of climate change.

Paper: To be posted.