ABSTRACT
The concept of sustainability has gained significant public and media attention over the last decade. Real and targeted attempts to create sustainable processes and organizations have arisen in nearly all communities and industrial sectors. Both private and civic leaders have viewed sustainability for both economic and philosophical reasons as the issue has moved from fringe concept to practical application. Likewise, the concept of sustainability has become increasingly politicized in many communities and public sectors. It is also, as will be discussed in this chapter, inherently tied to environmental risks and the impact of human choices, which have driven the concept of sustainability directly into the future choices of the emergency management community.
