The world is in the grips of a flood crisis. As millions in Pakistan remain affected by flooding that has killed more than 1,500 people, Typhoon Noru has lashed the Philippines and Vietnam. Hurricane Ian, which left a trail of destruction in Cuba, has brought devastating floods to Florida. “We’re continuing to see deadly rainfall, catastrophic storm surges, roads and homes flooded. We’re seeing millions of people without power and thousands hunkered down in schools and community centres,” said US President Joe Biden.
“They’re wondering what’s going to be left — what’s going to be left when they get to go home … or even if they have a home to go to. Some of the folks have been through this before, but that doesn’t make it any easier.“
But while extreme weather is becoming a new reality in the wake of intensifying climate change, death and destruction doesn’t have to be. Increasingly, flood adaptation and mitigation solutions are being trialled and developed by governments, private industry and the research community.
