Some say that if the bee disappears, life as we know it on earth will end because plants will no longer be able pollinate. Some say that human kind will cease to exist in a matter of years because of climate change while others debate the reality of climate change. We seek to understand the impact of public opinion on environmental policy and the key factors that local government needs to focus on to bring a balance between our daily needs and public opinion on human interaction with the environment.

Environmental policy is inherently linked to disaster policy. The decisions that are made on a daily basis can have a tremendous impact, not only when a hazard interacts directly with society, but also indirectly through the environment.