The dynamics of vulnerability: What droughts and flooding can teach us about adapting to climate change

The dynamics of vulnerability

On Tuesday, June 13, InSIS visitor and Leverhulme Visiting Professor, Lisa Dilling will be presenting a lecture on 'The dynamics of vulnerability: What droughts and flooding can teach us about adapting to climate change'. This lecture will be held at 3pm in the Gottmann Room at the School of Geography and the Environment, South Parks Road, Oxford.

All are welcome to attend.

Presentation abstract:
Cities in the U.S. have been adapting to drought and flooding for many years, implementing a combination of mechanisms to cope with climate and water variability and (often) increasing population. I argue that these experiences help us to understand how society will engage the challenge of adapting to climate change. Data from drought management and flooding show that adaptation to climate variability can shift vulnerability in unexpected ways. This suggests that there is a need for greater engagement with various publics on the tradeoffs involved in adaptation action and for improving analysis and communication about the complicated nature of the dynamics of vulnerability.