SOCIETAL RESPONSES TO ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

This article examines the increasing hazardousness of places as a cons equence of natural disasters, technological failures and chronic envir onmental degradation on a global scale. The first part of the article describes the trends and impacts of environmental hazards, including t heir frequency, magnitude and damage on both a regional and an interna tional scale. The article then details some of the confounding issues affecting hazard vulnerability including population change, urbanizati on, technological innovation, industrialization and wealth inequities. It concludes with a discussion on differential adjustments to environ mental hazards and ways in which to improve the human condition.