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.

Aqueduct Flood Analyzer Partners

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, tluo@wri.org

Find us on Twitter: @WRIAqueduct

www.wri.org/floods