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.

excerpts from the Foreword by Janos Bogardi