Sustainable Living with Environmental Risks

We are not free from environmental risks those are accompanied by development of human societies. Modern economic development accelerated environmental pollution, loss of natural habitats and modified landscapes. These environmental changes impacted natural systems; water and heat circulation, nutrient cycling and biodiversity. These changes in natural system degrade ecosystem services then increased environmental risks for human. Therefore environmental risks are not only human health risks by pollution, climatic anomalies, natural disasters, but also degradation of ecosystem services on which most people are relying their lives. We cannot entirely eliminate the risks, because it is not possible to attain zero impact on environment, but we need to find a mechanism that minimize environmental risks for human sustainably. This is the idea of the interdisciplinary framework of Environmental Risk Management theory, which advocates harmony between economic development and environmental conservation. Based on this theory, the SLER program, adopted by the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT) as one of strategic programs, has been training graduate students to become future environmental leaders who would take initiative to reduce the level of environmental risks and to protect natural resources in the developing nations in Asia and Africa from 2009 to 2013 at the Yokohama National University, Japan. This book provides students and teachers of this new academic field with a comprehensive coverage of case studies of environmental risks and their practical management technologies both in Japan, Asian and African countries.