Issues in a world of environmental and societal vulnerability

摘要

Huamn activity has brought increased risks for irreversible damage to the global environment. An increasing world opopulation and expectations for a better standard of living carries an unsolvable dilemma. An uncontrolled development can make the life supporting platform of the earth increasingly vulenerable. The vulnerability is also mediated through societal instability where escalating local conflicts may end in major environmetal damage. Better models are needed for understanding interaction between society and the environment. A global management of resources is one way to decrease the vulnerability of present systems. The paper evaluates issues of environmental and societal vulnerability and means to aoid irreversible environmental damage. A prudent approach towards broad issues of environmental protection and societal stability should make it possible to decrease risks of environmetal catastrophes.