Coastal areas, in general, are among the areas most at risk in the context of climate change, due to the concentration of important ecosystems and natural resources typical of these areas. These regions house a large portion of the global population in urban metropolises, along with a concentration of critical structures, such as industrial ports, defining a high exposure to incident threats. Due to their location, coastal regions are affected by critical events such as sea level rise and other climate phenomena. Events of an extreme nature, such as cyclones and coastal storms, which, combined with tidal variations, can cause undertows and giant waves. Such events can impact these areas such as coastal erosion, flooding, saline intrusion into water bodies and imbalance of ecosystems. The combination of these threats with the high degree of exposure and the vulnerable condition of many coastal cities can result in significant losses and damages. This high risk defines the importance of studies on the vulnerability of coastal cities today. This study presents a summary of the concepts associated with climate change, vulnerability and resilience that was based on a critical analysis of the literature. Furthermore, it proposes a methodological strategy to assess the climate vulnerability of coastal urban areas, considering both the population and the assets that are at risk. The methodology tool developed presents conceptual matrices and interrelationships between variables and indicators. The integration of physical and socioeconomic dimensions, as well as infrastructure, basic facilities and adaptation capacity, allows the application of this method using selected data to define priorities in public policies