Geography as human ecology? the man/environment equation reappraised

Key aspects of human life have always been influenced by the vagaries of natural environment. It is argued in this paper that the quantity and quality of human life are still strongly influenced by natural environment, especially climate, and that geographers are especially well qualified to identify the relationships and specify the consequences of present patterns and likely changes. The author shows that climatic effects, whether natural or man‐made, when combined with a still‐expanding population, are the parameters of an extraordinarily serious problem that has the capacity to result in major catastrophe for modern man if not realistically addressed and resolved.