. Earth Science News .
SHAKE AND BLOW
Floods may cost 20% of global GDP by 2100: study
By Patrick GALEY
Paris (AFP) July 30, 2020

Coastal flooding and storm surges could threaten assets worth up to 20 percent of global wealth, according to research published Thursday highlighting the potential economic catastrophe that climate change may bring.

While much is known about the potential for global sea levels to rise as burning fossil fuels heats the planet and melts its frozen spaces, far less research looks at the impact of individual extreme flood events.

Researchers in Australia combined data on global sea levels during extreme storms with projections of sea level rises under different greenhouse gas emission scenarios.

They then used the data to model maximum sea levels that may occur by 2100, and calculated the population and assets at risk from such flooding.

The team found that under a high-emissions scenario, in which humanity fails to curb its carbon pollution, up to 287 million people would be at risk from extreme floods by the end of the century.

Given the large number of megacities and financial capitals on the coastline globally, they calculated the value of assets under threat to be more than $14 trillion -- around a fifth of global GDP.

"What is (currently) seen as a once in a hundred year extreme sea level, could occur once in a decade or less at most of the coastal locations," said Ebru Kirezci, from the University of Melbourne's Department of Infrastructure Engineering and lead study author.

Kirezci said this was significant because most urban planning today is conducted on the basis that such events will continue to be extremely rare.

"The new design directives might also consider updating the values with careful and detailed local modelling," she told AFP.

- 'Very real threat' -

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that sea levels could rise as much as one metre by 2100 if emissions are not capped.

The study, published in Nature Scientific Reports, found that areas at increased risk of extreme flooding include southeastern China, Australia, Bangladesh, West Bengal and Gujarat in India, the US states of North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland and northwest Europe including Britain, France and Germany.

Kirezci said it was vital for governments to prepare defences -- including erecting "protection structures" such as dykes and sea walls -- in order to avert almost unthinkable economic loss.

Sally Brown, deputy head of Bournemouth University's Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, said Thursday's study "highlights the very real threat and costs of sea-level rise to millions of people living around the world."


Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


SHAKE AND BLOW
Europe flooding period worst in 500 years: study
Paris (AFP) July 22, 2020
Europe has been struck by more frequent and widespread flooding in recent decades than at any other time in the past 500 years, according to a sweeping analysis of the continent's flood history released Wednesday. A pan-European team of researchers spent more than eight years poring over nearly 10,000 records of flood events stretching back to 1500. They found that not only have the last 30 years witnessed more frequent and stronger flood events than at any other time, but the flooding was happ ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

SHAKE AND BLOW
Scientists attempt to model spread of social unrest, riots

Snapchat grudges, COVID-19 pressures drive US shooting epidemic

Myanmar army sacks officers over landslide tragedy

Iran says damage at nuclear site 'significant'

SHAKE AND BLOW
Scientists discover how deep-sea, ultra-black fish disappear

Microsoft sees growth amid pandemic computing demands

Hole in none: how screen golf got serious in South Korea

Coronavirus boon for Poland's vibrant gaming sector

SHAKE AND BLOW
Egypt's Sisi says Nile dam saga to 'drag on'

AU to hold Ethiopia dam meeting on August 3: Sudan

Migratory river fish populations down 76% since 1970: study

High and dry: developed Cambodian wetlands raise flood risk

SHAKE AND BLOW
Antarctica more widely impacted by humans than previously thought

Highest-ever temperature recorded in Norwegian Arctic archipelago

Air Force releases Arctic defense strategy

Climate change on track to wipe out polar bears by 2100

SHAKE AND BLOW
Report links world's top meat firm to deforestation

Hit by virus and drought, rural Moroccans tighten belts for Eid

Philippines: deadliest country in Asia for land defenders

Clear strategies needed to reduce bushmeat hunting

SHAKE AND BLOW
Tropical storm warning issued for Puerto Rico as cyclone approaches

Historically stable volcanoes can host potentially explosive magmas

Douglas downgraded to tropical storm after skirting Hawaii

2020's first hurricane roars ashore in virus-hit Texas

SHAKE AND BLOW
Rebel ambush kills 7 soldiers in eastern DR Congo: monitor

USS 'Woody' Williams leaves for Africa on inaugural deployment

Zambia seeks Chinese debt relief for virus-hit economy

'Bandits' kill 23 Nigerian troops in northwest: security sources

SHAKE AND BLOW
World population likely to shrink after mid-century

Neanderthals may have had a weak pain threshold

Spider monkey groups use collective computation to forage for food

Study reveals differences between nobles, commoners in Middle Ages









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.