Page 9 - ING-Waterproblematiek Report
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Climate change puts flood risk higher
on the agenda
Impact of climate change on flood risk: Example Solution: The Big U
A 10-mile water protective system around Manhattan,
• sea levels to increase New York: making a vulnerable city flood resilient called The Big U, is being built to protect the city from
The damage from hurricane Sandy came as a surprise floods and storm water while also creating vibrant
• more extreme weather events to New Yorkers. The city turned out to be extremely public and private spaces for the diverse communities
vulnerable as: of New York.
• increased rainfall • New York has no defence strategy in terms of outer
Global warming increases the risk of flooding and inner defences such as dykes as well as water
Global temperatures have increased by 1 degree Celsius connections between the two;
from pre-industrial levels. Four million square kilometres of • 9/11 had resulted in many companies moving their
ice has melted as a result, causing the sea level to rise by most valuable assets to their basements;
19 centimetres. That might not seem a lot but the potential • New York’s critical infrastructure and buildings like
influence of rising sea levels is certainly significant. hospitals, power stations, sewage treatment and
The two most vulnerable icecaps are the ones of Greenland telecommunications are located near the water,
and the West Arctic. If they were to melt completely then without proper flood protection;
the sea level will rise by 12 metres, 7 from the Greenland • Manhattan has a dense underground metrosystem
ice cap and 5 from the Arctic one. Fortunately the sea level that leads the water straight into the city.
rise is not expected to rise anything like that in the
foreseeable future but this does illustrate the importance
of controlling global warming.
New York water facts 1,130.2 mm
Annual precipitation 8.4 million
Population Very high
Flood risk US$ 65 billion
Damage by Sandy
ING Economics Department 9 Too little, too much / December 2015
