Abstract
The exposure of urban populations to flooding is highly heterogeneous, with the negative impacts of flooding experienced disproportionately by the poor. In developing countries experiencing rapid urbanization and population growth a key distinction in the urban landscape is between planned development and unplanned, informal development, which often occurs on marginal, flood-prone land. Flood risk management in the context of informality is challenging, and may exacerbate existing social inequalities and entrench poverty. Here, we adapt an existing socio-hydrological model of human-flood interactions to account for a stratified urban society consisting of planned and informal settlements. In the first instance, we use the model to construct four system archetypes based on idealized scenarios of risk reduction and disaster recovery. We then perform a sensitivity analysis to examine the relative importance of the differential values of vulnerability, risk-aversion, and flood awareness in determining the relationship between flood risk management and social inequality. The model results suggest that reducing the vulnerability of informal communities to flooding plays an important role in reducing social inequality and enabling sustainable economic growth, even when the exposure to the flood hazard remains high. Conversely, our model shows that increasing risk aversion may accelerate the decline of informal communities by suppressing economic growth. On this basis, we argue for urban flood risk management which is rooted in pro-poor urban governance and planning agendas which recognize the legitimacy and permanence of informal communities in cities.
Highlights
The distribution of flood risk in urban areas is highly heterogeneous (Grasham et al, 2019), with the adverse impacts of flooding experienced disproportionately by the poor (Douglas et al, 2008; Filho et al, 2018; Oliver-Smith et al, 2017; van Voorst, 2015)
We argue for urban flood risk management which is rooted in pro-poor urban governance and planning agendas which recognize the legitimacy and permanence of informal communities in cities
There is a need to improve our knowledge about the dynamic relationship between urban flood risk management, inequality and poverty, to inform the development of sustainable and inclusive policies for reducing urban flood risk (Grasham et al, 2019)
Summary
The distribution of flood risk in urban areas is highly heterogeneous (Grasham et al, 2019), with the adverse impacts of flooding experienced disproportionately by the poor (Douglas et al, 2008; Filho et al, 2018; Oliver-Smith et al, 2017; van Voorst, 2015). Flood risk is acute in unplanned, informal urban settlements, which are home to more than 1 billion people worldwide (World Health Organization & UN Habitat, 2016). In these communities, weak governance and systemic inequalities have resulted in a lack of effective policy to mitigate and adapt to the elevated flood risk (Grasham et al, 2019). There is a need to improve our knowledge about the dynamic relationship between urban flood risk management, inequality and poverty, to inform the development of sustainable and inclusive policies for reducing urban flood risk (Grasham et al, 2019).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
