Climate Change

How are cities adapting to the increasing risk of floods?

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of disasters such as flooding.

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of disasters such as flooding. Image: Unsplash/Egor Gordeev

Sahil Gandhi
Assistant Professor, University of Manchester
Matthew Kahn
Provost Professor of Economics, University of Southern California
Rajat Kochhar
PhD student in Economics, University of Southern California
Somik V. Lall
Lead Economist, Office of the Chief Economist for Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions, World Bank
Vaidehi Tandel
Lecturer, Henley Business School, University of Reading
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Night lights before and after floods in Chennai, India: 2015–16.
Floods disrupt life in cities through temporary power failures, disruption of essential services, damage to property, and temporary closure of offices and factories. Image: VoxEu
Cities in low-income countries that had experienced repeated flooding in the past saw higher deaths per disaster.
Cities in low-income countries that had experienced repeated flooding in the past saw higher deaths per disaster. Image: VoxEu
Impact of floods on night lights in cities in high-income and low-income countries.
On average, floods lead to a decline in mean night lights in cities by around 3%. Image: VoxEu

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Related topics:
Climate ChangeClimate IndicatorsCities and Urbanization
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