Particularly vulnerable are people living in low-lying island states, in heavily populated coastal areas of many countries and on river deltas, and the poor in countries affected by debilitating droughts and floods.
Watakaokumbwa zaidi na athari hizo ni wale ambao huishi kwenye visiwa ambavyo havijainuka ya kutosha, wale waishio kwa wingi katika maeneo ya pwani ya bahari na maziwa; kwenye mabonde ya mito n.k. Wengine ni wale ambao huishi kwenye majangwa na maeneo ya mafuriko.