ABSTRACT
Disasters will increase in number, frequency, intensity, scale and complexity across the globe in the twenty-first century. These will come with major losses of human lives, destruction of property, homes and livelihoods and significant disruption to communities in major cities and isolated villages, in both the developed and developing world. From earthquakes in South America, Indonesia and China, to hurricanes in the United States, to droughts and fires in Australia, floods across Asia, and rising sea levels in the Pacific, disaster events already provide regular reminders that our planet is in crisis and that environmental certainties and the taken-for-granted places we call home can change in a very short period of time. While there are a number of causative factors shaping environmental disasters, there is overwhelming evidence that human-induced climate changes have had a major destructive impact. Yet, this is not the only factor shaping disasters. Across the world we have seen a rise in conflict and war zones and a significant increase in terrorist acts. These disaster events also cause major losses and changes to the environment and to the lives of the people affected.
