Vulnerability is defined as the degree to which a system is susceptible to, and unable to cope with, adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extremes. Vulnerability is a function of the character, magnitude, and rate of climate change and variation to which a system is exposed, its sensitivity, and its adaptive capacity. Source: http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg2/en/annexessglossary-p-z...