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Hazard: The potential incident of a natural or human-induced physical event or trend that may cause loss of life, injury, or other health impacts, as well as damage and loss to property, infrastructure, livelihoods, service provision, ecosystems and environmental resources. Can be climatic phenomena such as average temperature increase, heat waves, drought, or extreme precipitation events that can be sudden or gradual. Hazards include also sea level rise, habitat destruction, ecosystem intrusion, mobility, and the climatic/environmental suitability for vectors and pathogens, that in of themselves can be considered hazards; thus, hazard exists regardless of exposure.
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Exposure: The state of people, livelihoods, species, property, (eco-)systems, or other elements present in hazard zones that thereby could be adversely affected or have no protection from something harmful and are therefore subject to potential impacts. Certain types of land use, geography, flood water, contaminated drinking water supply, traffic corridors or presence of vectors and pathogens determine exposure of individuals or communities under specific circumstances. For example, global mobility contributes to the introduction of and exposure to pathogens and vectors.
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Vulnerability: The propensity or predisposition to be adversely affected. Vulnerability encompasses a variety of concepts and elements including sensitivity or susceptibility to harm and lack of capacity to cope and adapt; it can stem from contextual conditions, individual-level characteristics, or the socio-economic environment; it can be determined by social, human, financial, physical or natural capital or by social inequalities. Vulnerability to health can be higher among poorer, marginalized or less educated individuals/communities, migrants, the young, as well as the elderly, exposed workers or individuals with underlying medical conditions. Moreover, vulnerability is also defined by the lack of safeguards (e.g., door/window screens for vectors, flood barriers) or personal susceptibility (e.g., age, sex, education, medical predisposition).
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Impact: Adverse outcomes of realized risks on natural and human systems, where risks result from the interactions of climate-related hazards, exposure, and vulnerability. Impacts refer to effects on lives; livelihoods; health and well-being; ecosystems and species; economic, social and cultural assets; services (including ecosystem services); and infrastructure.
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Risk: The potential for adverse consequences where something of value is at stake and where the occurrence and degree of an outcome is uncertain.
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