Introduction

The aims of this introduction are to:

outline the purpose of the book;

define the terms ‘event’ and ‘environment’;

outline the relationship between events and the environment as it has changed over time;

identify some significant aspects of the relationship between events and the environment: ◦

positive and negative impacts;

◦

the relationship between environmental and other impacts;

◦

the changing nature and scale of environmental impacts;

◦

models of the environment;

◦

the interactive, two-way relationship between events and the environment;

◦

feedback from the environment; and

◦

outline the structure and content of the book.