Includes bibliographical references and index.

Climate change is increasing the severity of natural disasters / Andrew Freedman -- Climate change is increasing the frequency of floods and droughts / Paul A. Dirmeyer -- Climate change is not increasing the frequency of floods / Kenneth Artz -- Natural disasters are hitting harder, and not because of global warming / Jacy Fortin -- Natural disasters caused by human activity have increased / Brian Merchant -- Urbanization increases the threat of natural disasters / Stewart M. Patrick -- The increase of natural disasters is a biblical prophecy / Ron Fraser -- Catastrophe on camera: why media coverage of natural disasters is flawed / Patrick Cockburn -- The frequency of earthquakes is not increasing / Colin Stark -- Counting the costs of calamities / Economist -- Economic recovery from natural disasters is declining / Richard Heinburg -- International laws fail to address disaster-driven migration / Michael Clemens.

"Books in this anthology series focus a wide range of viewpoints onto a single controversial issue, providing in-depth discussions by leading advocates, a quick grounding in the issues, and a challenge to critical thinking skills"--Provided by publisher.