ABSTRACT
Sociological concepts of resilience are also related to vulnerability, but rather than being seen as opposite ends of a spectrum, they can be envisaged as parallel sets of indicators. Whereas vulnerability measures susceptibility, resilience draws on the strengths and capacity of people and communities. People’s resilience is juxtaposed against their potential vulnerability (Buckle, 2006; Gow & Paton, 2008; Paton, Millar, & Johnston, 2001). Community sustainability also relates to resilience because its purpose is to maintain a working ecosystem that will sustain communities and their resource use into future generations. Many of the things human beings do, however, are not sustainable when confronted by the impacts of climate change (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007). Mitigating climate disasters thus demands change in our economy, resource use patterns, governance and social priorities and relationships. Consequently, the need for adaptation appears inevitable, but understanding capacity for adaptation requires recognition that many factors operating at multiple scales influence vulnerability, resilience and adaptation (Gow & Paton, 2008).
