GLOBAL RIVER FLOOD RISKS
Tianyi Luo, Research Analyst, and Charles Iceland, Aqueduct Director
www.wri.org/floods
Why Do River Floods Matter?
1. SCALE Floods affect more people than
any other natural disaster
2. DAMAGE Floods from rivers cause as
much or more damage in some countries
as rising seas, storm surges.
3. RISKS RISING 21 million people at risk
now – 54 million expected in 2030.
Key Findings
1. POPULATION: 21 million people
worldwide currently at risk – 54 million
projected in 2030
2. GDP: $96 billion at risk currently -- $521
billion projected by 2030
3. TOP COUNTRIES: India, Bangladesh,
China, Vietnam, Pakistan.
Global Flood Analyzer
1. Estimates current and
future risk exposure (2030)
2. By Urban Damage, GDP,
Population
3. For every country, state,
and major river basin
globally
A Few Things About Our Data
1. GLOBAL
COVERAGE
2. HIGH
RESOLUTION
3. LATEST GLOBAL
CLIMATE MODELS
By country, river
basin, and state
1 km
IPCC AR5
Sources: Hessel et al., 2013; Philip et al., 2013.
What’s Next?
1. Coastal storm surge risk
2. Estimates of actual levels of protection
worldwide
3. Estimates of viability, cost, and benefits of
protection measures
What’s Next?
1. Coastal storm surge risk
2. Estimates of actual levels of protection
worldwide
3. Estimates of viability, cost, and benefits of
protection measures
Questions or comments?
Contact: Tianyi Luo, [email protected]
Find us on Twitter: @WRIAqueduct
www.wri.org/floods