Mitigating risks of natural and human-made disasters caused by excessive urbanization

Abstract

Urbanization, a significant outcome of the Industrial Revolution, has led to the excessive concentration of industries and populations in geologically vulnerable areas, such as low-lying coastal and riverside zones. This geographic clustering amplifies the risk of disasters, such as floods. Geological and archeological evidence highlights a long history of natural disasters, such as severe flooding often associated with earthquakes and other geological events. To address these risks, governments must reassess the vulnerability of densely populated areas and prioritize the implementation of risk reduction and mitigation measures. One potential strategy involves relocating key industries to safer locations, such as higher elevations less prone to flooding, while simultaneously developing measures to protect urban populations from natural disasters.

Keywords

Urbanization / Climate change / Natural disasters / Social development / Welfare policy

Funding

None.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests. The opinions expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Government of China or of any other organization.

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