A systematic review of current progress in community based vulnerability assessments
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
This systematic literature review critically evaluates the extent to which community-based vulnerability assessments are progressing towards less siloed approaches that address spatial and temporal interactions and multiple exposures. The review focuses on studies that apply the most commonly operationalised frameworks in the livelihoods and climate change disciplines between 2014 and 2023, the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) (n = 72) and the IPCC AR4 Framework (AR4) (n = 101). This review found that a minimal number of studies are addressing limitations. This was most significant in relation to the inadequate consideration of spatial scale (SLF 1%; AR4 5%), future temporal scale (SLF 4%; AR4 7%), and exposure to multiple shocks and stressors (AR4 7%; SLF 8%) within studies. Progress was seen with respect to overcoming siloed perspectives, which had previously led to the exclusion of external shock and stressor events (SLF) or socioeconomic factors (AR4) within assessments. Despite this progress, AR4 based studies were found to exclude key components of adaptive capacity, particularly in relation to natural (28%), financial (57%) and components of social capital. Additionally, only 47% of SLF based studies measured exposure to shock and stressor events. To overcome limitations scholars must engage with i) less-siloed frameworks that combine perspectives from the livelihoods and climate change disciplines and ii) non-static approaches that assess vulnerability in the context of social-ecological systems or use ethnographic methods (e.g., scenario planning and participatory mapping) to contextualise outputs. By engaging with these limitations, scholars reduce the potential for assessments to produce ineffective, or maladaptive outcomes.
Journal
Regional Environmental Change
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Volume
24
ISBN/ISSN
1436-378X
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Pages Count
17
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Publisher
Springer
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EISSN
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DOI
10.1007/s10113-023-02179-z