Key Vulnerability, Key Risk, Key Impact

A vulnerability, risk, or impact relevant to the definition and elaboration of “dangerous anthropogenic interference (DAI) with the climate system,” in the terminology of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Article 2, meriting particular attention by policy makers in that context. Key risks are potentially severe adverse consequences for humans and social-ecological systems resulting from the interaction of climaterelated hazards with vulnerabilities of societies and systems exposed. Risks are considered “key” due to high hazard or high vulnerability of societies and systems exposed, or both. Vulnerabilities are considered “key” if they have the potential to combine with hazardous events or trends to result in key risks. Vulnerabilities that have little influence on climate-related risk, for instance, due to lack of exposure to hazards, would not be considered key. Key impacts are severe consequences for humans and social-ecological systems.