A vulnerability index is a measure of the exposure of a population to some hazard. Typically, the index is a composite of multiple quantitative indicators that via some formula, delivers a single numerical result. Through such an index "diverse issues can be combined into a standardised framework...making comparisons possible". For instance, indicators from the

physical sciences Physical science is a branch of natural science that studies non-living systems, in contrast to life science. It in turn has many branches, each referred to as a "physical science", together is called the "physical sciences". Definition ...

can be combined with social, medical and even psychological variables to evaluate potential complications for disaster planning. The origin of vulnerability indexes as a policy planning tool began with the United Nations Environmental Program. One of the participants in the early task forces has also conducted secondary research documenting the evolution of the analytic tool through various stages. The term and methodology then expanded through medical literature and social work as discussed by Dr. James O'Connell of Boston Healthcare for the Homeless.

Basic methodology

The basic methodology of constructing a vulnerability index is described by

University of Malta The University of Malta (, UM, formerly UOM) is a higher education institution in Malta. It offers undergraduate bachelor's degrees, postgraduate master's degrees and postgraduate doctorates. It is a member of the European University Association, ...

researcher Lino Briguglio who developed an economic vulnerability index (EVI) for describing the economic vulnerability of

Small Island Developing States The Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are a grouping of developing country, developing countries which are small island country, island countries and small states that tend to share similar sustainable development challenges. These include s ...

(SIDS). The individual measures are weighted according to their relative importance. A cumulative score is then generated, typically by adding the weighted values.

Decision tree A decision tree is a decision support system, decision support recursive partitioning structure that uses a Tree (graph theory), tree-like Causal model, model of decisions and their possible consequences, including probability, chance event ou ...

s can evaluate alternative policy options. Much of the original research has been evaluated by Lino Briguglio and presenters at Oxford, providing a body of secondary source material.

Earlier use

A composite vulnerability index grew out of the work of South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC),

Fiji Fiji, officially the Republic of Fiji, is an island country in Melanesia, part of Oceania in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about north-northeast of New Zealand. Fiji consists of an archipelago of more than 330 islands—of which about ...

, and the Expert Group on Vulnerability Indexes affiliated with the United Nations, in response to a call made in the Barbados Plan of Action, the

Alliance of Small Island States Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) is an intergovernmental organization of low-lying coastal and small island countries. AOSIS was established in 1990, ahead of the Second World Climate Conference. The main purpose of the alliance is to c ...

(AOSIS). Bruguglio participated in development of the vulnerability index model for international organizations of small island developing states. University of Malta also hosts the Islands and Small States Institute, Foundation for International Studies. Other institutional participants included the New Zealand Official Development Assistance (NZODA) Programme. In 1996, the concept of a composite vulnerability index had been tentatively taken up by Commonwealth policy analysts. In 1997, official background papers of the SIDS unit reflected the term "vulnerability index" at least internally. It was also advanced in Commonwealth channels. By 1997, the term was approved for publication by the staff of the

UN Secretary General The secretary-general of the United Nations (UNSG or UNSECGEN) is the chief administrative officer of the United Nations and head of the United Nations Secretariat, one of the United Nations System#Six principal organs, six principal organs of ...

in the SG's Report on Development of a Vulnerability Index for SIDS. This concept was subsequently adopted by other experts in that field. and explicitly named as such. In a 1999 Technical Report for SOPAC, Kaly ''et al.'' discussed more focused vulnerability indexes. A subsection of that report was entitled "Vulnerability index – environment" and the report also discussed the concept of " Environmental vulnerability index".

Extension of the general concept

The

IPCC The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is an intergovernmental body of the United Nations. Its job is to "provide governments at all levels with scientific information that they can use to develop climate policies". The World M ...

embraced vulnerability as a key category in 2001. A 2002 paper then applied a vulnerability indexing model to analysis of vulnerability to

sea level rise The sea level has been rising from the end of the last ice age, which was around 20,000 years ago. Between 1901 and 2018, the average sea level rose by , with an increase of per year since the 1970s. This was faster than the sea level had e ...

for a US coastal community. At a 2008

Capacity Building Capacity building (or capacity development, capacity strengthening) is the improvement in an individual's or organization's facility (or capability) "to produce, perform or deploy". The terms capacity building and capacity development have often ...

Seminar at Oxford, the " Climate Vulnerability Index" was presented with an application to the protection of tourist economies, which may be important to small island states and others. By the time of this seminar, vulnerability indexes were established as governance tools. However, despite existing vulnerability assessment methodologies, vulnerability assessments are heavily influenced by data availability, data reliability, extent, scale, rating methods of vulnerability indicators, and interpretation of the 'vulnerability' and related concepts. As a result, there are many frameworks and indices available which are attuned to specific systems, areas, or circumstances, rather than a comprehensive definition or framework.

In hazard planning

The concept has been extended and applied in dealing with risk from natural hazards and the part that population metrics play in making such a situation into a disaster. In the USA this has been done at a county level. And is run by the Hazards and Vulnerability Research Institute since 2003.

In medicine

In 2005 a "Histopathological Plaque Vulnerability Index" was proposed.

References