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.