Increasing flood risk: why new cities are being built in areas of increased vulnerability

As the world accelerates urbanization, the number of buildings being built in flood-prone areas is increasing, raising serious concerns about the vulnerability of communities to natural disasters amid the growing climate crisis, according to a recent study.

A study published in the journal Nature found that from 1985 to 2015, the number of settlements at high risk of flooding – from small communities to megacities – increased by 122%. World Bank senior economist Paolo Avner noted that at a time when cities must adapt to climate change, many countries continue to increase the risk of floods due to rapid human settlement development. This is an alarming trend, especially as climate change increases the incidence of flooding around the world.