In the first of a weekly round-up of news items covering flood events and flood risk stories from around the globe, we start with a comment piece from The Guardian looking at how predicted sea-level rises threaten many of the world’s most important cities.

International News

Major cites face risk from sea-level rises

Alison Kemper and Roger Martin, writing for The Guardian, investigate the threat posed to major cities such as New York, London and Mumbai by sea-level rises.

Quoting Ben Strauss from Climate Central: “By the end of this century, if global climate emissions continue to increase, that may lock in 23 feet of sea-level rise.”

The article summarizes the implication of sea-level rises with a stark financial projection: “Average global flood losses in 2005 are estimated to be approximately US$6 billion per year [in 136 coastal cities], increasing to US$52 billion by 2050 with projected socio-economic change alone.

Read the article in full here.

North American News

Creative solutions fight flood vulnerability

Chris Atchison, writing for Canada’s The Globe and Mail, looks at innovative flood mitigation measures instigated by firms in Toronto.

Read the article in full here.

South American News

Peru to invest US$1.27bn in Chira-Piura water basin

BN Americas covers the news that Peru is investing heavily water management initiatives, stating that: “The Chira-Piura basin has long faced issues such as water scarcity, droughts, floods and landslides in addition to water degradation from the dumping of untreated wastewater.”

Read the article in full here

European News

Major floods affecting Wales last year due to “flawed planning”

The BBC has reported that people living on a housing estate in Wales “where devastating flooding affected 122 homes last year” are claiming that flawed planning led to the problem.

Read the article in full here

African News

Gambia – Preparing for Uncertainty

Ousman Sillah, writing for AllAfrica.com, investigates how “inadequate rainfall, flooding, low productivity, post harvest losses, poor marketing and pricing of agricultural produce have always been confronting the farmers in The Gambia”.

Australian News

New study set to change fate of flood prone areas

Justin McGar, writing for Sourceable, looks at a New Era Regional Flood Mapping study for Australia. Those interested in this story should also take a look at Ambiental’s own work on Australian flood mapping.