Climate-proofing cities: a focus on vulnerability indices

Effective urban planning is vital for mitigating vulnerability and bolstering resilience. This paper conducts a systematic literature review examining indices for urban vulnerability assessment developed between 2015 and 2025. From an initial 7,809 Scopus records, a rigorous screening process, including full-text assessment against criteria emphasizing applicability to urban planning, multi-dimensional assessment, quantitative data linkage, and explicit climate event focus, yielded 109 core studies. Bibliometric analysis (using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix) was performed on 342 articles identified after initial screening to delineate the research landscape. The 109 core studies were then analyzed in-depth. The review synthesizes the component variables of these indices into eight thematic groupings: Demographic Dynamics, Infrastructure, Ecosystem Services, Urban Living Environment, Hazard Intensity/Frequency, Governance, Resource Management, and Geomorphology. This categorization highlights current assessment practices, reveals areas of underrepresentation, and directly contributes to structuring a more holistic and integrated framework for urban vulnerability assessment, aiming to enhance urban planning practices.