Economic motivation for raising coastal flood defenses in Europe

Michalis I. Vousdoukas (), Lorenzo Mentaschi, Jochen Hinkel, Philip J. Ward, Ignazio Mongelli, Juan-Carlos Ciscar and Luc Feyen
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Michalis I. Vousdoukas: Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Lorenzo Mentaschi: Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Jochen Hinkel: Adaptation and Social Learning
Philip J. Ward: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Ignazio Mongelli: Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Juan-Carlos Ciscar: Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Luc Feyen: Joint Research Centre (JRC)

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Extreme sea levels (ESLs) in Europe could rise by as much as one metre or more by the end of this century due to climate change. This poses significant challenges to safeguard coastal communities. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of economically efficient protection scenarios along Europe’s coastlines during the present century. We employ a probabilistic framework that integrates dynamic simulations of all ESL components and flood inundation, impact modelling and a cost-benefit analysis of raising dykes. We find that at least 83% of flood damages in Europe could be avoided by elevating dykes in an economically efficient way along 23.7%-32.1% of Europe’s coastline, specifically where high value conurbations exist. The European mean benefit to cost ratio of the investments varies from 8.3 to 14.9 while at country level this ranges between 1.6 and 34.3, with higher efficiencies for a scenario with high-end greenhouse gas emissions and strong socio-economic growth.

Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-15665-3

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15665-3

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