Measuring Vulnerability to Natural Hazards: Towards Disaster Resilient Societies

Jorn Birkmann

ISBN 10: 9280811355 / ISBN 13: 9789280811353

Published by United Nations Publications, 2006

About this Item

This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has soft covers. In fair condition, suitable as a study copy. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,950grams, ISBN:9789280811353.

Seller Inventory # 3981354

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Measuring Vulnerability to Natural Hazards: Towards Disaster Resilient Societies
• Publisher: United Nations Publications
• Publication Date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9280811355
• ISBN 13: 9789280811353
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: Fair
• Weight: 950 grams
• Seller catalogs:
  • Political Science

About this title

Synopsis

A seemingly nonstop series of disasters has shown that societies worldwide seem unprepared for the threats posed by natural hazards. They include Hurricane Katrina, drought in Africa, flooding in China and Germany, earthquakes in Pakistan and India, a tsunami in Southeast Asia, and forest fires in Portugal, Australia, and North America. The tragic impacts of these events drew short-term attention from policymakers, the media, and the general public, but their response was too late to prevent serious harm. Societies need to measure their vulnerabilities in advance, and make adequate provisions. To do so, they have to understand the complex relationships between natural hazards and the related social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities. Recognizing and measuring vulnerabilities is the first and perhaps most important step towards disaster-resilient societies. Measuring Vulnerability to Natural Hazards presents a broad range of current approaches to measuring vulnerability and contains concrete experiences and examples from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe to illustrate the theoretical analyses. This is a unique compilation of state-of-the-art vulnerability assessment. It is a critical review that provides important conclusions for future research towards more disaster resilient communities.

About the Author

Jörn Birkmann is an academic officer at the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security and chair of the International Expert Working Group on Measuring Vulnerability.