Natural Disasters, Vulnerability, and Sustainable Development

Natural disasters are increasingly affecting millions
of people throughout the world. Due to the
concentration of substandard infrastructure and
housing, material assets, and inherent socio-economic
inequalities, large urban areas are particularly
vulnerable from the effects of natural disasters
which obstruct the sustainable development of these
settlements. This book examines the interplay between
natural disasters, vulnerability, and sustainable
development. The book provides a quantitative study
on the interplay between sustainable development and
natural disasters in twenty countries during a period
from 1960 to 2004. In addition, the book executes a
qualitative study on the interplay between urban
development, vulnerability, and risk management in
the earthquake prone city of Istanbul. By examining
different aspects of this interplay at different
scales of development, this book stresses the
importance of specific public policies, which can
provide the way urban areas can reduce disaster risks
and create sustainable communities. This book is
intended for anyone who is interested in the subject
of natural disasters, sustainable development, and
the urban systems.

Autorentext
Dr. Ebru A. Gencer: PhD in Urban Planning at Columbia University. ProVention Consortium Grantee for Disaster Risk Reduction. Participant at UNU-EHS and Munich Re's Academy on Social Vulnerability. Instructor and critic at Columbia University. Researcher at Columbia University's Project on Risk Mitigation to Metropolitan Areas.

Klappentext
Natural disasters are increasingly affecting millions of people throughout the world. Due to the concentration of substandard infrastructure and housing, material assets, and inherent socio-economic inequalities, large urban areas are particularly vulnerable from the effects of natural disasters which obstruct the sustainable development of these settlements. This book examines the interplay between natural disasters, vulnerability, and sustainable development. The book provides a quantitative study on the interplay between sustainable development and natural disasters in twenty countries during a period from 1960 to 2004. In addition, the book executes a qualitative study on the interplay between urban development, vulnerability, and risk management in the earthquake prone city of Istanbul. By examining different aspects of this interplay at different scales of development, this book stresses the importance of specific public policies, which can provide the way urban areas can reduce disaster risks and create sustainable communities. This book is intended for anyone who is interested in the subject of natural disasters, sustainable development, and the urban systems.