Developing countries are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of global environmental change, including climate change, due to a range of stresses, such as persistent poverty, weak governance and ecosystem degradation. Managing and adapting to these risks requires comprehensive understanding of how socio-economic drivers and planned development trajectories interact with natural systems under a changing climate, and what opportunities and challenges exist for planning and implementing adaptation measures.
START’s program on vulnerability and adaptation emphasizes integrated cross-disciplinary research, which seeks to enhance:

• Capacity for conducting regional context-specific research to further understanding of impacts, vulnerability and adaptation,
• Closer links between scientists and policy makers in order to support robust and informed decision making, and
• Effective communication of risks and response options to decision makers and at-risk groups.