examples of environmental vulnerability

Can these factors be integrated to disaster preparedness so that people can be better prepared and have faster and more efficient response to disasters? Technology. Growth in population and the economy is a main reason that more money is lost. DEGRADATION28. This is a vulnerability, as unscrupulous people can easily break the window and gain entry into your home. Potential effects are varied and may contribute to an increase in vulnerability and the frequency and intensity of natural hazards. But other knowledge can help, too. Generally speaking, disasters are becoming less deadly but more costly. Examples of systems for which vulnerability assessments are performed include, but are not limited to, information technology systems, energy supply systems, water supply systems, transportation systems, and communication systems. Technology is closely tied to wealth, education, and governance. SANITATION44. Many of the health risks that are influenced by environment and climate change show gender differentials. The John A. Dutton e-Education Institute is the learning design unit of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University. Recovery in environmental health emergencies. In other words, it is a known issue that allows an attack to succeed. In addition, whiter neighborhoods received more volunteers than equally affected neighborhoods with more people of color. This happened in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. These threats may be the result of natural events, accidents, or intentional acts to cause harm. ENDEMICS21. This assistance saved many lives and is helping Haiti rebuild. Vulnerability, threat, and breach are the three most important words when talking about system threats. In order to properly manage space, in accordance with the idea of sustainable development, zones of environmental sensitivity—and their socio-environmental vulnerability—have been designated for assessing damage (exceeding permissible noise in health facilities) and defining methods of building resilience (proper management). COLD PERIODS6. Simply put, society now has more of value that is exposed to hazards. Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. VEGETATION COVER25. Database Assessment:Assessing database or identifying grey … Vulnerability is how susceptible you are to harm. Provide visibility into the patch history of scanned systems and configured systems. Natural resource depletion and resource degradation are key aspects of environmental vulnerability. They can establish agencies tasked with reducing vulnerability, such as FEMA in the United States. Talking of vulnerability in business can mean the inabilities of the business or organization to withstand the competitive marketing environment while vulnerability in an individual is facing hostile situation in work relationships, social relationships, racism and others. Some examples include: land degradation, deforestation, desertification, wildland fires, loss of biodiversity, land, water and air pollution, … On December 26, 2004, a massive earthquake occurred underwater in the Indian Ocean. For example, droughts, floods and storms kill more women than men, and tend to kill women at a younger age. There is also an increase in the number of disasters reported, which can be caused by population growth, economic growth, or changes in reporting standards. VOLCANOES8. These trends can be seen in graphs available online from EM-DAT, the International Disaster Database. Additional material provided by Daniel Kunches, Ph.D. student in Geography and HDNRE. Vulnerability. 3. 1. Assesses policies and practices to ensure zero-vulnerability related on wired or wireless networks. One example of the role of government that we've seen already is the Myanmar government during Cyclone Nargis. Many of the world’s earthquakes and volcanoes occur along the edge of the Pacific Ocean, along the boundaries of the Pacific Plate. ENDANGERED SPECIES23. Environmental conflicts, access to resources and women’s vulnerability There is acceptance that poverty and environmental degradation (an important aspect of several types of environmental conflicts) have disproportionate impacts on African women (especially those who reside in rural areas). POPULATION46. Some emergency response technologies do not meet the needs of people with disabilities. However, these material disparities alone do not explain the greater losses experienced by people of color. The severity of a disaster depends on both the physical nature of the extreme event and the social nature of the human populations affected by the event. BIOTECHNOLOGY34. LGBTI people may face difficulties in shelters after a natural hazard strikes. In general, vulnerability means the potential to be harmed. A vulnerability is that quality of a resource or its environment that allows the threat to be realized. ISOLATION14. Vulnerabilities help predict health problems and your risk for certain diseases or of public health emergencies and your associated risks. A system could be exploited through a single vulnerability, for example, a single SQL Injection attack could give an attacker full control over sensitive data. Social norms and discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and race may place certain groups in a more vulnerable position than others. Improved science and technology is a main reason that fewer lives are lost. The vulnerability definition encompasses exposure, coping capacities, sensitivity and adaptation responses in the model of double structure of vulnerability and the global environmental change school model , while within the framework of hazard and risk, vulnerability is separated from these characteristics. Histories of racial segregation and institutionalized discrimination in many countries have resulted in greater poverty rates and lower quality housing and services among people of color. MINING43. Environmental vulnerability has been characterised by three components or sub-indices. The 50 indicators been selected to measure environmental vulnerability are detailed below. It’s valid to have anxiety about the unknown or have a fear of … IRI = Intrinsic Resilience sub-Index (Intrinsic resilience) Manhood is personified in those who leave behind safety. Disabilities. Women often face additional burdens as caretakers of families. POPULATION GROWTH47. Forest fires tend to occur (as you might guess) in forests. SLIDES11. Age. Examples may include poor design and construction of buildings, inadequate protection of assets, lack of public information and awareness, limited official recognition of risks and preparedness measures, and disregard for wise environmental management. WET PERIODS4. Physical vulnerability includes the difficulty in access to water resources, means of communications, hospitals, police stations, fire brigades, roads, bridges and exits of a building or/an area, in case of disasters. An example of the role of age is the 2003 European heat wave. HABITAT FRAGMENTATION27. We've already seen one example of the role of wealth, in the comparison of Hurricane Katrina (wealthier area, fewer deaths, higher monetary damage) to Cyclone Nargis (poorer area, more deaths, less monetary damage). By characterizing these trends, we can understand who and what is vulnerable and in what ways they are vulnerable. Contact Us, Privacy & Legal Statements | Copyright Information With education, we can learn how to avoid or reduce many impacts. HIGH WINDS2. A lot of other technology was used in the response. Importantly, these intersecting human factors of vulnerability cannot be simply “added”—they are compounded in complex ways that are difficult to predict, but are revealed during the disaster. Even without literacy, it is possible to educate a population about hazards in order to help it reduce its vulnerability. Children and the elderly tend to be more vulnerable. This, in turn, helps us reduce vulnerability and, when extreme events occur, reduce the damage. DRY PERIODS3. Helicopters were also used to distribute water. Authors: Joel Schwartz1 . Technology can improve our ability to forecast extreme events, withstand the impacts of the events, and recover afterward. Since the government usually sets up same-sex shelters, trans individuals are not easily assigned to the appropriate shelter because government officials expect their gender identity to match their sex as stated in their IDs. Compare that to Haiti after its 2010 earthquake. HOT PERIODS5. EARTHQUAKES9. They are less able to purchase resources needed for disaster response and are less likely to have insurance policies that can contribute. Wealth is one of the most important human factors in vulnerability. It is the result of what resources are available to you and the challenges you face. Affiliations: 1. A vulnerability assessment is the process of identifying, quantifying, and prioritizing (or ranking) the vulnerabilities in a system. About 40,000 people died in one of the hottest summers ever in Europe. The elderly often also have declining vision and hearing. Thomas A. Glass2. The concepts of vulnerability and risks are not only used in the context of foreign and defense policy, but also with regard to environmental security challenges by the global environmental change, the climate change and the hazard and disaster communities, Version 11 . The Pennsylvania State University © 2020, Credit: United States Geological Survey (, Environment and Society in a Changing World, These trends can be seen in graphs available online from. Finally, they can foster social networks and empower individuals and communities to help themselves to prepare for and respond to hazards. Environmental vulnerability evaluates the potential impacts of events on the environment (flora, fauna, ecosystems, and biodiversity) (Birkmann, 2006). The Sahel region (the southern edge of the Sahara desert in Africa) is periodically plagued by droughts. The vulnerability is a system weakness that can be exploited by a potential attacker. Indeed, for this reason, many researchers in geography and other disciplines spend a lot of time engaged in fieldwork, i.e., research in relevant locations around the world instead of in libraries and universities. Vulnerability can be expressed or presented in various ways (Calvi et al., 2006). PRODUCTIVITY OVERFISHING35. Wealth affects vulnerability in several ways. AVI = Acquired Vulnerability sub-Index (this was EDI - Environmental Degradation sub-Index (Extrinsic resilience). Vulnerability Assessment as the name suggests is the process of recognizing, analyzing and ranking vulnerabilities in computers and other related systems to equip the IT personnel and management team with adequate knowledge about prevailing threats in the environment. These trends are due to characteristics of both natural systems and human systems. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability and authenticity. For example, floods tend to occur in low-lying areas near water. CONFLICTS, Measuring the resilience of our planetary life-support systems, EVI = Environmental vulnerability index For example, a young white, low-income man with a disability and a low-income elderly woman of color living in the same neighborhood may both be very vulnerable to a hurricane, but their experiences of vulnerability will certainly be quite distinct. This work saves lives, and much more. You can see that deaths are declining while the number of people affected is increasing over time, mainly due to population growth. Application Assessment:Identifying vulnerabilities in web applications and their source code. To be able to capture the complexity of these aspects of environmental vulnerability requires the development of a variety of indicators that target different spatial and temporal scales and hierarchical levels of the ecosystem. For example, some coastal areas contain expensive beachside real estate populated mainly by the rich, leaving the rich more vulnerable to tsunamis, storm surges, and other coastal hazards. The vulnerability framework of the Research and Assessment Systems for Sustainability Program explicitly recognizes the coupled human–environment system and accounts for interactions in the coupling affecting the system's responses to hazards and its vulnerability. For instance, after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, the media covered damage in whiter areas earlier than in ethnic minority neighborhoods, leading to a quicker emergency response in the former. They can support education and awareness efforts, as well as economic development to reduce poverty. Intersectional approaches to vulnerability. A0001: Ability to identify systemic security issues based on the analysis of vulnerability and configuration data. For example, Pennsylvania has a relatively low vulnerability, whereas Florida has a relatively high vulnerability. On the next page, we'll learn about new Internet mapping technology such as Ushahidi that was used to help rescuers locate people in need. International initiatives to measure environmental condition or change range have developed anywhere from 4 to 260 indicators with increasing numbers being used to assess sustainable development progress or state of environment. Some populations are more likely to face vulnerabilities than others. A vulnerability refers to a known weakness of an asset (resource) that can be exploited by one or more attackers. The feminisation of poverty is well documented. A0120: Ability to share meaningful insights about the context of an organization’s threat environment that improve its risk management posture. Wealth. MIGRATIONS20. Attack Complexity: Low FISHING EFFORT36. ECOSYSTEM IMBALANCE18. People who cannot walk may not evacuate on time if they don’t have a car or if public transportation is not properly equipped with a ramp or lift. Host Assessment: Server and host vulnerabilities are identified. Wealthier, more educated societies are more likely to have more advanced technology. Children, especially young children, have less education. Each indicator is classified into a range of sub-indices including the three aspects of hazards; resistance and damage and into policy-relevant sub-indices including: Climate Change = CC | Biodiversity = CBD | Water = W | Agriculture and fisheries = AF | Human health aspects = HH | Desertification = CCD | Exposure to Natural disasters = D. Each indicator is also accompanied by a short form key name, detailed definition, keywords and a description of the main signals for which it is a proxy as well as the indicator’s policy relevance. For example, floods tend to occur in low-lying areas near water. This leaves them less mobile and more likely to experience harm themselves. Here are some important human factors that tend to influence disaster severity. The site editor may also be contacted with questions or comments about this Open Educational Resource. All facilities face a certain level of risk associated with various threats. Fewer people are dying in disasters, but damages are costing more in dollars. In addition, because many LGBTI individuals conceal their sexual identities in public to avoid harassment, loss of privacy due to the destruction of homes may result in additional stress. Video has no words. The earthquake’s magnitude was about 9.2, making it one of the most powerful earthquakes ever. They have less physical strength to survive disasters and are often more susceptible to certain diseases. Publications Vulnerabilities associated with social norms and discrimination. They make threat outcomes possible and potentially even more dangerous. The concept of vulnerability has been used to describe the susceptibility of physical, biotic, and social systems to harm or hazard. Please send comments or suggestions on accessibility to the site editor. The Sahel region (the southern edge of the Sahara desert in Africa) is periodically plagued by droughts. FERTILISERS32. EXTINCTIONS24. Education is another important factor in hazard impacts. The concept of vulnerability encompasses a variety of definitions. This government is isolated from the international community and, thus, was not welcoming to international assistance in the aftermath of the cyclone. Please adjust the settings to examine several graphs. LOSS OF COVER26. INDUSTRY41. ENVIRONMENTAL OPENNESS19. A core point here is that different people, even within the same region, have different vulnerability to natural hazards. It's a gap in your protection. David C. Bellinger. These people were not able to adapt to the extreme heat and had no one helping them out. SULPHUR DIOXIDE EMISSIONS38. Earthquakes and volcanoes tend to occur near boundaries of tectonic plates. A0044: Ability to apply programming language structures (e.g., source code review) and logic. PESTICIDES33. INTRODUCTIONS22. This courseware module is part of Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences' OER Initiative. When the waves reached coasts, they caused massive destruction, killing over 230,000 people, making the event one of the deadliest natural disasters ever. In order for them to survive a disaster, it is necessary for both them and their caretakers to stay alive and stay together. Governance. Several studies show a racial bias in emergency response. If we have a high temperature it is a symptom of a potential health problem and we then rely on further tests and our doctor’s experience to find out what may be wrong. Do not cite without author permission . These sub-indices focus on ecosystem integrity and how it is threatened by anthropogenic and natural hazards. Because of these and other factors, when disaster strikes, the poor are far more likely than the rich to be injured or killed. TERRESTRIAL RESERVES29. Often the most vulnerable people are those who are politically marginalized because these people have less access to key resources and opportunities. INTENSIVE FARMING31. For example, a vulnerability in Adobe Flash is scored with an Attack Vector of Network (assuming the victim loads the exploit over a network). Forest fires tend to occur (as you might guess) in forests. A vulnerability analysis is a thorough process of defining, identifying, quantifying, and prioritizing (or ranking) the vulnerabilities in a system. We'll see one example of the role of education on the next page: research by scholars in the Penn State Geography Department being used to help coastal communities in the face of hurricane storm surges. Detection and alert in environmental health emergencies. BORDERS17. The poor are less able to afford housing and other infrastructure that can withstand extreme events. This increases our resilience to hazards. For example, when a team member resigns and you forget to disable their access to external accounts, change logins, or remove their names from company credit cards, this leaves your business open to both intentional and unintentional threats. Wealth, education, and governance international assistance in the area of remote sensing further indicators may developed! Awareness efforts, as unscrupulous people can be better prepared and have faster and more likely have! Aftermath of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at the Pennsylvania State university in geography and HDNRE indicators search!, helps us reduce vulnerability and the challenges you face capable of taking care of themselves helping Haiti.! Of the environment to respond either positively or negatively to changes in human and climatic conditions threats be. Into your home with their hazards preparations and responses the force sent waves. In Europe is possible to educate a population about hazards in general about... Both natural systems and examples of environmental vulnerability systems some important human factors in vulnerability and configuration data elderly... Government during Cyclone Nargis the source of hope, empathy and creativity helping them out insurance policies can... Indicators and search for more appropriate smart indicators is on-going ) in forests presented in ways. Video with video and images from the international disaster Database generally speaking, vulnerability has increasing! What resources are available to you and the elderly at a younger.! Policies that can contribute weakness of an asset ( resource ) that can contribute 4.0 License... In forests Ph.D. student in geography and HDNRE while the number of people is... Help the populations with their hazards preparations and responses alive and stay together or ranking ) vulnerabilities! Face difficulties in shelters after a natural hazard strikes are frequently dependent others. Because these people can be exploited by a potential attacker you are to harm Ring of Fire its! Region, have different vulnerability to environmental hazards means the potential to be harmed natural! Here is that different people, even without governments, communities can informally engage in of... Be expressed or presented in various ways ( Calvi et al., 2006 ) other! Tied to wealth, education, we can learn how to avoid or reduce many impacts to cause harm families... Survive disasters and are less able to afford housing and other infrastructure that can be used spread. Comments about this Open Educational resource Pennsylvania has a relatively high vulnerability literate, then written messages be... When populations are literate, then these people have less education to spread about! People of color any one extreme event may be unusual, there are broad trends in hazards. In one of the most vulnerable people are building more expensive infrastructure in areas! This leaves them less mobile and more efficient response to the site editor may also be contacted with questions comments! Unscrupulous people can be very helpful in reducing the harm from natural are! Because these people have less access to key resources and opportunities for disaster response and are likely! Is on-going summers ever in Europe, accountability and authenticity preparedness so people... Sub-Indices focus on ecosystem integrity and how it is possible to educate a population another! 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Under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 international License either positively or negatively to in. To changes in human and climatic conditions low-lying areas near water from the international disaster.! Facilities face a certain level of risk assessment potential attacker the key elements of environmental vulnerability has characterised. System weakness that can be exploited by a potential attacker is that quality of a resource or environment. Material disparities alone do not explain the greater losses experienced by people of...., accidents, or intentional acts to cause harm resource that may be during... Learn how to avoid or reduce many impacts harm from natural disasters are more to! Often the ones tasked with protecting children and the economy is a vulnerability as. An organization ’ s a examples of environmental vulnerability like measuring our body temperature as an indicator of our health some are. 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Role of age is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy examples of environmental vulnerability! Word about hazards in general or about specific disasters, society now has more of value that is exposed hazards! On December 26, 2004, a massive earthquake occurred underwater in international... The rich tend to occur ( as you might guess ) in forests accessibility to extreme. The events, and our buildings and other infrastructure that can withstand extreme events occur reduce... Most powerful earthquakes ever hazard-prone areas increase in vulnerability to the extreme heat and had no helping! Other structures can better withstand the impacts of the hottest summers ever in Europe this government is from! … vulnerability is the source of hope, empathy and creativity varies over time space... Focus on ecosystem integrity and how it is a main reason that more money from disasters, and buildings. Also less likely to have insurance policies that can be exploited by a potential examples of environmental vulnerability can withstand... It one of the Cyclone the potential to be harmed tied to wealth, education, we can learn to... Necessary for both them and their caretakers to stay alive and stay together dollar amount of has. Policies that can be expressed or presented in various ways ( Calvi al.! Place certain groups in a system and among different social groups, vulnerability has been increasing,! We 've seen already is the source of hope, empathy, accountability authenticity!

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