Assessing surface water flood risk and management strategies under future climate change: Insights from an Agent-Based Model

Climate change and increasing urbanization are projected to result in an increase in surface water flooding and consequential damages in the future. In this paper, we present insights from a novel Agent Based Model (ABM), applied to a London case study of surface water flood risk, designed to assess...

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Main Authors: Jenkins, K, Hall, J
Format: Journal article
Published: Elsevier 2017
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author Jenkins, K
Hall, J
author_facet Jenkins, K
Hall, J
author_sort Jenkins, K
collection OXFORD
description Climate change and increasing urbanization are projected to result in an increase in surface water flooding and consequential damages in the future. In this paper, we present insights from a novel Agent Based Model (ABM), applied to a London case study of surface water flood risk, designed to assess the interplay between different adaptation options; how risk reduction could be achieved by homeowners and government; and the role of flood insurance and the new flood insurance pool, Flood Re, in the context of climate change. The analysis highlights that while combined investment in property-level flood protection and sustainable urban drainage systems reduce surface water flood risk, the benefits can be outweighed by continued development in high risk areas and the effects of climate change. In our simulations, Flood Re is beneficial in its function to provide affordable insurance, even under climate change. However, the scheme does face increasing financial pressure due to rising surface water damages. If the intended transition to risk-based pricing is to take place then a determined and coordinated strategy will be needed to manage flood risk, which utilises insurance incentives, limits new development, and supports resilience measures. Our modelling approach and findings are highly relevant for the ongoing regulatory and political approval process for Flood Re as well as for wider discussions on the potential of insurance schemes to incentivise flood risk management and climate adaptation in the UK and internationally.
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spelling oxford-uuid:5bff2533-61f6-4bab-908f-2b201f8b2c402022-03-26T17:25:29ZAssessing surface water flood risk and management strategies under future climate change: Insights from an Agent-Based ModelJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:5bff2533-61f6-4bab-908f-2b201f8b2c40Symplectic Elements at OxfordElsevier2017Jenkins, KHall, JClimate change and increasing urbanization are projected to result in an increase in surface water flooding and consequential damages in the future. In this paper, we present insights from a novel Agent Based Model (ABM), applied to a London case study of surface water flood risk, designed to assess the interplay between different adaptation options; how risk reduction could be achieved by homeowners and government; and the role of flood insurance and the new flood insurance pool, Flood Re, in the context of climate change. The analysis highlights that while combined investment in property-level flood protection and sustainable urban drainage systems reduce surface water flood risk, the benefits can be outweighed by continued development in high risk areas and the effects of climate change. In our simulations, Flood Re is beneficial in its function to provide affordable insurance, even under climate change. However, the scheme does face increasing financial pressure due to rising surface water damages. If the intended transition to risk-based pricing is to take place then a determined and coordinated strategy will be needed to manage flood risk, which utilises insurance incentives, limits new development, and supports resilience measures. Our modelling approach and findings are highly relevant for the ongoing regulatory and political approval process for Flood Re as well as for wider discussions on the potential of insurance schemes to incentivise flood risk management and climate adaptation in the UK and internationally.
spellingShingle Jenkins, K
Hall, J
Assessing surface water flood risk and management strategies under future climate change: Insights from an Agent-Based Model
title Assessing surface water flood risk and management strategies under future climate change: Insights from an Agent-Based Model
title_full Assessing surface water flood risk and management strategies under future climate change: Insights from an Agent-Based Model
title_fullStr Assessing surface water flood risk and management strategies under future climate change: Insights from an Agent-Based Model
title_full_unstemmed Assessing surface water flood risk and management strategies under future climate change: Insights from an Agent-Based Model
title_short Assessing surface water flood risk and management strategies under future climate change: Insights from an Agent-Based Model
title_sort assessing surface water flood risk and management strategies under future climate change insights from an agent based model
work_keys_str_mv AT jenkinsk assessingsurfacewaterfloodriskandmanagementstrategiesunderfutureclimatechangeinsightsfromanagentbasedmodel
AT hallj assessingsurfacewaterfloodriskandmanagementstrategiesunderfutureclimatechangeinsightsfromanagentbasedmodel