The United Nations University (UNU) is the academic arm of the United Nations (UN). It
bridges the academic world and the UN system. Its goal is to develop
sustainable solutions for current and future problems of humankind in all
aspects of life. Through a problem-oriented and interdisciplinary approach it
aims at applied research and education on a global scale. UNU was founded in
1973 and is an autonomous organ of the UN General Assembly. The
University comprises headquarters Tokyo, Japan, and more than a dozen Institutes
and Programmes worldwide.
SOURCE No. 6/2007 - Perspectives on Social Vulnerability Edited by Koko Warner
“Perspectives on Social Vulnerability”
is a selection of papers from the first Summer Academy on Social Vulnerability, that took place from 22-28 July 2006 in Hohenkammer, Germany. This title suggests some of the fundamental aspects of the multidisciplinary, debate-filled, and policy relevant research surrounding the impact of shocks groups at risk face from multiple stressors.
This publication is the first SOURCE dedicated to examining the state of research and emerging perspectives on social vulnerability. The volume is part of a larger effort by the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) to consolidate research on social vulnerability and facilitate science that increases the understanding, and proposes possible solutions to manifestations, of social vulnerability to environmental and social stressors. In response to a growing need for knowledge about social vulnerability UNU-EHS began forging new partnerships to fill knowledge gaps and foster a corps of scientists to address complex questions surrounding the multiple aspects of vulnerability, including social vulnerability.
Following the introductory chapter by the editor, this volume has three sections. Chapters in the first section address general frameworks for thinking about social vulnerability to multiple stressors. The second section includes chapters that examine some of the factors that contribute to social vulnerability. This section features case studies of water scarcity in Cochabamba Bolivia, migration following Hurricane Katrina, and flood risk management in Mexico. Each of these case studies examines key factors that contribute to or alleviate social vulnerability. The third section of the volume looks at practical applications of research in social Vulnerability. This section highlights applied research in GIS technologies used to locate refugee camps, water management in megacities, and types of interventions
that build institutional resilience to stressors like natural disasters. These chapters underscore the importance of examining social vulnerability when designing and implementing policy.
