Exploring the barriers to flood management that can adapt to uncertain change

The study looked at how to build adaptability into decisions about flood risk management and the potential barriers, including economic appraisal.

• From: Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Research and Development Programme and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 18 February 2021

• Category: Policy, governance and funding
• Topics: Adaptation, Appraisal strategy, Climate change, Coastal erosion, Decision making with uncertainty, Flood costs, Flood risk assessment, Flood risk governance, Natural flood management, Sea level rise, Strategy and planning
• Project status: Completed
• Project code: FD2617
• Date of completion: 31 March 2010

Documents

The appraisal of adaptation options in flood and coastal erosion risk management - research project final report (57 KB) PDF

The appraisal of adaptation options in flood and coastal erosion risk management - supplementary information for final project report (43 KB) PDF

The appraisal of adaptation options in flood and coastal erosion risk management - research and development technical report (1 MB) PDF

The appraisal of adaptation options in flood and coastal erosion risk management - technical summary (44 KB) PDF

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Details

This research explores the challenges and barriers to actions that allow us to adapt to the uncertain effects of climate change, rather than trying to prevent them. It also identifies potential ways of overcoming those barriers.

Adaptability is about being flexible and making it possible for strategies and schemes to evolve. Change and uncertainty arise from many sources, of which climate change is an important one.

This research used interviews with a range of stakeholders. It included a stakeholder workshop, a technical review and case studies to find the barriers to more adaptable responses. In particular it examined whether the current system for economic appraisal creates bias away from adaptation actions.

This project was started in 2008 and completed in 2010 at a cost of £128,110.

Published 18 February 2021