Environmental Disaster

What is it about?

Definition/Description Disasters are defined as events that can originate from both nature and humans although the line between the two can blur, producing “unnatural” disasters (Bates 2002). Geological, hydrological, and atmospheric disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, rocks falling, avalanches, drought, flooding, storms, lightning strikes, and hurricanes are considered to be natural disasters (Adeniran 2013). Environmental disasters are man-made, anthropogenic ones; it means that they are caused by human activity. Human activity can change the environment abruptly or gradually (Bates 2002). Environmental disasters affect agriculture, biodiversity, the economy, and human health. Unnatural disasters are result from an interaction of natural and anthropogenic disruptions in the environment. According to Jacobson (1988, p. 16), they are “normal events whose effects are exacerbated by human activities.” Technological disasters are entirely anthropogenic, but like natural disasters, they are temporally acute (Bates 2002). Environmental pollution or depletion can produce also the anthropogenic deterioration of an ecosystem (Schnaiberg and Gould 1994).

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Photo by Alex Belogub on Unsplash

Photo by Alex Belogub on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Summary Disasters are defined as events that can originate from both nature and human beings and cause losses of life, property, and social value, as well as stopping or interrupting human activities. Natural disasters are the consequence of natural hazards, and they can happen at any time or place. Environmental disasters (man-made or anthropogenic disaster) are results from technological inventions and civil conflicts. The release of toxic substances into the environment can have acute or gradual effects on ecosystems and human life. Technological disasters are entirely anthropogenic, but like natural disasters, they are temporally acute. Gradual degradation of the atmosphere by additional carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses again is due with the current global warming trend that is human expansion of the greenhouse effect. Depletions may concern only a single species in a given environment or degradation of the ecosystem as a whole. Disasters’ potential hazards are not preventable, but their damage can be reduced, and humans’ abilities to cope with disasters can be increased. Disaster awareness can be taught to all members of a society. Disaster education includes both school-based initiatives, public information campaigns and also family and community learning, adult education, and popular culture. People, who are aware of disaster threats and risks and have knowledge about disasters, may have protective and preventative behaviors against disasters. Consequently, they can make an action plan for disasters and act correctly during a disaster which will minimize the damage and loss of life and property caused by disasters.