Environmental Risk Assessment : Future Challenge for Disaster Mitigation

摘要

Over the past fe.w decades, there has been an increasing concern that human actions and natural catastrophes have been adversely impacting the environment, and posing serious ecological and health hazards. This concern has led to an increased emphasis on environmental risk assessment studies all over the world.rnRisk assessment is defined as "A methodology to determine the nature and extent of risk by analyzing potential hazards and evaluating existing conditions of vulnerability that could pose a potential threat or harm to people, property, livelihoods and the environment on which they depend.rnRisk assessments include detailed quantitative and qualitative understanding of risk, its physical, social, economic and environmental factors and consequences. It is a necessary first step for any serious consideration of disaster reduction strategies.rnDisaster reduction strategies include, first and foremost, vulnerability and risk assessment, as well as a number of institutional capacities and operational abilities. Essential features of a disaster reduction strategy include the assessment of the vulnerability of facilities crucial to the social and economic infrastructure, the use of effective early warning systems, and the application of many different types of scientific, technical, educational and other skilled abilities.