Abstract

The lives of all people are intertwined with their environment and the weather and water aspect of it. Although a necessity and benefit, weather-water extreme events wreck havoc on the world. The impacts are most on poorer countries and people and with a changing climate it is necessary that actions are taken to reduce loss of lives and the socio-economic costs. The exposure and vulnerability of coastal mega cities make them a focal area for disasters and impacts on human health. In Canada there are also climate-related health impacts through, for example, stressful events and air pollution. The international community has responded with the Hyogo Framework for Action and the scientific community is responding through research programs to provide the basis for taking action. Environmental change and climate change need to be linked with disaster risk reduction and international development. These are long-term issues and ones that must be seen as issues of intergenerational and international equity.