Vulnerability is the degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extremes. 

A Vulnerability Assessment is a way to identify how sensitive and exposed the community is to the current climate and assists in the understanding of how well the community has coped in the past and will be able to do so into the future. 

The CIPS Team assists communities to identify the vulnerabilities but also help in communicating and create an understanding of them to the community members and other stakeholders.