Disaster

Abstract

This chapter evaluates the relationship between environmental protection and disaster law and policy. How well one approaches disaster risk helps to determine how functional the surrounding environment will be. The chapter examines a range of international laws and policies used to manage disaster risk, focusing on those that are particularly relevant to environmental issues. It begins with a brief look at global disaster risk in the twenty-first century, placing it in the context of natural systems, human activities, and climate change. It then looks at the United Nations' (UN) major frameworks on reducing disaster risk (the Hyogo and Sendai Frameworks), along with the international strategy to implement framework goals (the UN Plan of Action). Finally, the chapter turns to other areas of international law that have strong overlapping interests in disaster risk, particularly ecosystem management and rules pertaining to transboundary harm.

Keywords: natural disaster, international law, environmental law, climate change, transboundary harm, disaster risk