15 April 2011 [MediaGlobal]: Recent events in Japan illustrate the unpredictable consequences of natural disasters.
No one foresaw that an earthquake and tsunami would lead to the near meltdown of a nuclear power plant, a water crisis, a food crisis and, most recently, the dumping of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean.
Within a century, countries such as Tuvalu and the Maldives may go underwater. Being just above sea level now makes both extremely vulnerable to rising sea levels. Entire populations may eventually flee and become environmental refugees.
Hans Gunter Brauch and Úrsula Oswald Spring from the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) are the editors of “Coping with Global Environmental Change, Disasters and Security,” a handbook focused on global environmental change, climate change, desertification, hazards, and security threats. More >>>
Within a century, countries such as Tuvalu and the Maldives may go underwater. Being just above sea level now makes both extremely vulnerable to rising sea levels. Entire populations may eventually flee and become environmental refugees.
Hans Gunter Brauch and Úrsula Oswald Spring from the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) are the editors of “Coping with Global Environmental Change, Disasters and Security,” a handbook focused on global environmental change, climate change, desertification, hazards, and security threats. More >>>
