Vulnerability of Heritage

Exposure

Exposure refers to the physical, environmental and social contexts that place tangible heritage in harm’s way.
It considers specifically the physical attributes of tangible heritage and the physical attributes of climate impacts in the past, the present, and the future.

The social and historical context of each location can increase or reduce exposure.
Things that modulate exposure include:
- Access: transit and use of places
- Relocation of communities and development
- Power structures for decision-making
- Mitigation and adaptation planning projects

This definition is based on the Social Vulnerability definition developed for the USGCRP Social Sciences Perspectives on Climate Change Workshop available in this link.

Sensitivity is the degree to which exposure to a hazard can affect the value of heritage for the stakeholders / community.
It considers the identified climate threats and the defined value of heritage.

The social and historical context of heritage production and value can increase or reduce sensitivity.
Things that modulate sensitivity include:
- poverty and structural racism
- cultural framing of hazards
- isolation of stakeholders
- changes in population density
- resolution, quality and confidence on available knowledge
- access to knowledge

This definition is based on the Social Vulnerability definition developed for the USGCRP Social Sciences Perspectives on Climate Change Workshop available in this link.

Adaptive capacity refers to all the characteristics and assets that are available to prepare for, cope, or respond to impacts.
It considers specifically the ability of stakeholders to intervene and mitigate exposure and sensitivity.

Given the complexities of society, not all stakeholders have equal ability or access to contribute to the decision-making necessary to protect heritage. The social, historical and political context of each location can increase or reduce adaptive capacity.
Things that modulate adaptive capacity include:
- Access to resources including time, financial capacity, knowledge of mitigating options
- Structural racism and discrimination
- Power: increase or decrease of existing inequalities
- Other priorities and urgencies related to climate change impacts taking over the priorities of individual stakeholders
- Ability to design and implement adaptation plans
- Access to information (forecast, details, scale of knowledge)
- Perception of threat, dissemination and access to knowledge
- Effectiveness stakeholder engagement
- Organizational problems or lack of communication

This definition is based on the Social Vulnerability definition developed for the USGCRP Social Sciences Perspectives on Climate Change Workshop available in this link.