Better public- and private-sector cooperation urgently needed to manage flood risk

Buiding Flood Resilience in a Changing Climate: Insights from the United States, England and Germany

Series of four reports on flood risk management (FRM) systems in the United States, Germany and England reveal that despite many activities, current approaches do not adequately factor in the changing risk landscape linked to climate change, land-use planning and development practices.

Flood Risk Management in the United States

Part of a comprehensive review of flood risk management in five mature economies, this report looks at the system in the United States. It reveals that the government is increasingly committed to building resilience to floods but that a reliance on post-disaster aid and a huge flood insurance gap remain in reality, due to low public awareness and a lack of affordable coverage. A more forward-looking approach to address the increasing level of risk and effects of climate change is recommended.

Flood Risk Management in England

Part of a comprehensive review of flood risk management in mature economies, this report looks at the system in England, where insurance take-up is high and climate change is taken into account. It finds that the current system is in transition, with focus shifting towards flood resilience; however, progress is slow and more needs to be done to incentivise risk reduction and avoid over-reliance on structural protection and the future availability of insurance.

Flood Risk Management in Germany

Part of a comprehensive review of flood risk management in five mature economies, this report looks at the system in Germany. While recognising the gradual shift towards a more anticipatory system focused on risk reduction, prompted by recent floods, it highlights the lack of strategic focus on how to achieve flood resilience and the prevailing underinsurance across the country.

Building Flood Resilience in a Changing Climate: Insights from the United States, England and Germany

Based on a major Geneva Association study on flood risk management in mature economies, this report gives an overview of the current systems in the United States, England and Germany. It finds that the need to build resilience to floods is recognised as a priority in all three countries but that the approach often remains reactive, rather than anticipatory, in reality. It also offers recommendations for governments, insurers, businesses and households to improve flood risk management systems in light of the changing risk landscape.

Annual Report 2019

An overview of our research and convening activities in 2019, as well as updates on the Geneva Association team and new initiatives.

COVID-19 has triggered a full paradigm shift across societies, economies and populations as well as in geopolitics. The full consequences are still unknown.

Will the world move towards more multilateral cooperation, recognising that global risks like pandemics and climate change require global responses? Or will COVID-19 accelerate unilateralism as people look to their own governments to take action?

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