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How does climate change impact us and what can we do about it? Those are the questions at the heart of vulnerability assessment and adaptation planning, and the questions Fuss & O’Neill answers at scales ranging from individual structures to watersheds.

Climate change impacts to the natural and built environments include slow-moving, chronic stressors (e.g., sea level rise and increasing annual temperatures) and rapid shocks (e.g., river flooding and heatwaves). Understanding the vulnerability of assets to climate change impacts requires understanding if they are first exposed to those impacts and then if they are sensitive to the impacts. Vulnerability to both shocks and stressors is critical to identify and then prioritize actions that increase adaptive capacity for communities, businesses, and organizations. Our approach to vulnerability assessment uses both established and emerging methodologies and protocols; uses the latest available future projections for temperature, precipitation, and sea level rise; and builds in flexibility to incorporate the value of stakeholder input.

In both conducting vulnerability assessments and prioritizing actions for adaptation, we listen to the voices of those most impacted by climate change and use our expertise in science, engineering, and planning to help communities, institutions, and businesses understand their overall vulnerability to climate change and increase their resilience through adaptation. At the municipal level, frontline communities often contain vulnerable populations that have been historically underrepresented in the decision-making process, but know best the ways in which climate change has impacted the places they live and work. For businesses and institutions, the insight and experience of staff can provide invaluable insight into how assets and operations have been impacted or could be impacted by a changing climate.