Environmental risks: flooding

Chen, Y. and Pryce, G. (2012) Environmental risks: flooding. In: Smith, S.J. (ed.) International Encyclopedia of Housing and Home. Elsevier: Oxford, UK, pp. 104-108. ISBN 9780080471631 (doi: 10.1016/B978-0-08-047163-1.00585-3)

Abstract

Global warming is likely to increase precipitation and storminess in many parts of the world. It is also likely to raise sea levels and distort regional weather patterns. At the same time, urbanisation may increase drainage problems and cause some areas to become more vulnerable to subsidence. Because the costs of flood defence rise disproportionately with the height of barriers, comprehensive flood protection will not be viable in many areas. Climate migration and temporary displacement of flooded populations will pose major challenges for housing systems. Encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their own flood resilience has so far proved problematic. Planners face the difficult task of identifying and managing optimal changes to land use patterns in the light of uncertain flood risk estimates, making sense of house price signals, and providing appropriate incentives for firms and households. House prices are important because of their impact on personal and institutional financial stability and as a potential measure of welfare loss. However, decision-makers need to be clear about the meaning of economic loss, and the potential pitfalls associated with employing hedonic house price analysis to estimate the impact on human well-being.

• Item Type: Book Sections (Encyclopaedia entry)
• Status: Published
• Refereed: No
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Pryce, Professor Gwilym and Chen, Dr Yu
• Authors: Chen, Y., and Pryce, G.
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISBN: 9780080471631