It encompasses papers investigating human habitats in a variety of settlement structures within several natural settings that are affected by negative impacts of extreme weather events, natural hazards, infectious diseases, contaminations, or crime. Further, it provides empirical case studies describing ways to strengthen environmentally-sound behavior and how people behave in very specific living conditions, e.g. in post-disaster settlements. The focus of the book is on the necessity of studying vulnerability, risks, and complexity as expressions of the major impacts of global change on human habitats. These include not only climate and hazard impacts but also new socio-demographic trends and regional economic developments influencing people's quality of life and their capacities to cope with global change. The book will be useful to scholars in cross-cutting areas of urban, hazard, planning, governance and sustainability research in strong relation to socio-psychological perspectives. The readers benefit from new theoretical as well as empirically based research findings in the emerging field of social-science vulnerability studies. The contributions cover six broad research fields: Reflections on vulnerability and risk in complex environments Coping with climate change and natural hazards Social dimensions of vulnerability and risks Participation and strategies of risk reduction Strengthening pro-environmental behaviour Place making and urban design

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents (preliminary) Introduction Vulnerability, Risks and Complexity: Impacts of Global Change on Human Habitats by Sigrun Kabisch et al. I Reflections on Vulnerability and Risks in Complex Environments Infectious Diseases as New Risks for Human Health by S. Harris Ali Urban Vulnerability under Conditions of Global Environmental Change. Conceptual Reflections and Empirical Case Examples of Growing and Shrinking Cities by Christian Kuhlicke et al. Rethinking People-Environment Relations with Inter- and Transdisciplinary Contributions by Roderick J. Lawrence II Coping with Climate Change and Natural Hazards Adaptation to Climate Change by Coastal Communities by Amalia Fernandez-Bilbao Residents' Usage of, Adjustment to, and Evaluation of Donated Post-Disaster Housing by Rachma M. Syam and Ryuzo Ohno Representations of Climate Change by Water Managers by Elisabeth Michel-Guillou Flood Hazards, Urban Waterfronts, and Cultural Heritage by Heiko Lieske III Social Dimensions of Vulnerability and Risks The Social Dimension of Forest Fires - Risk, Responsibility, and Participation by Ricardo Garcia-Mira et al. Housing Development and Vulnerability Reduction in Informal Railway Settlements in Bangkok by Rittirong Chutapruttikorn and Peter Kellett Shifting Local Vulnerabilities due to Housing Expansion: Case Study in the Colonial City of Seremban Municipality Area, Malaysia by Shaharudin Idrus et al. On the Relationship Between Crime in Residential Areas and Streets Segments Attributes by Antonio Tarcisio Reis and Celina Dittmar Social Vulnerability and Resilience of Young People: A Pilot Study in Fortaleza, Brazil by Zulmira Aurea Cruz Bomfim et al. IV Participation and Strategies of Risk Reduction Participation - The Silver Bullet for the Acceptance of Renewable Energies? by Irina Rau et al. Confronting Ignorance: Coping with the Unknown and Surprising Events in the Remediation of Contaminated Sites by Alena Bleicher and Matthias Gross Structural Change in Former Mining Regions: Identifying Potentials and Building Capacities by Jorn Harfst, Gerd Lintz, and Peter Wirth V Strengthening Pro-Environmental Behaviour Does Binding Communication Increase Consideration of Future Consequences and Decision-Making Concerning Pro-Environmental Behaviour? by Christophe Demarque et al. The Role of Individual Differences in Promoting Pro-Environmental Behaviour by Dora Medves and Judit Kovacs Mental Representations of Nature - The Importance of Well-Being by Kathrin Roderer and Renate Cervinka Biodiversity, Perceived Restorativeness, and Benefits of Nature: A Study on the Psychological Processes and Outcomes of On-Site Experiences in Urban and Peri-Urban Green Areas in Italy by Massimiliano Scopelliti et al. VI Place Making and Urban Design The Meaning of Place: Spontaneous Memorials in a Changing Urban Landscape by Mats Lieberg Effective Common Place Design Implied by Behavioural Evidence: Fresh Perspectives on Facility Management Research Promoting Environmentally Friendly University Campuses by Fahed A. Khasawneh et al. Responding to Complex Urban Challenges With Integrated Research in Education: Case Study of a Master Programme in Urban Design by Ombretta Romice