Europe Flood Losses to “Increase Fourfold” by 2050

Forecasting models predict flood damage losses could increase fourfold for Europe by 2050. Governments are not engaging in adequate planning. “The scientists believe that the continent's annual flood costs may be 23.5bn euros by the middle of the century,” reports Matt McGrath for BBC News. “Two-thirds of the projected increase in flood damage will be caused by human development, not climate change.” More people live along coasts and rivers, and the incomes and property values are higher. Models limited to one nation may underestimate risks by overlooking spatial co-relations, and this model is the first time researchers examined the probability of total damages from flooding across Europe. McGrath concludes, “Climate change cannot be dismissed and is likely to cause precipitation events to become more intense, and flood waters will likely be deeper and last longer.” Most political leaders fail to view long-term expenses as their problem. – YaleGlobal