Urban flooding: Constructing climate-resilient infrastructure

Urban flooding: Constructing climate-resilient infrastructure Àlex de la Cruz Coronas and Patricia Molina López discuss the escalating risks of urban flooding in Europe, highlighting the limitations of traditional flood hazard maps and emphasizing the need for more comprehensive data on the impacts of flooding. Urban flooding is rapidly emerging as one of the most disruptive climate risks faced by Europe’s metropolitan and coastal regions. Intensifying rainfall, sea-level rise, and continued urbanisation are increasing both the frequency and severity of flood events. In densely populated areas, impacts extend far beyond water depths on streets: transport systems stall, energy and water services are disrupted, businesses close, and public safety is compromised. Flood hazard maps alone are no longer sufficient; adaptation requires evidence on who and what is at risk and how severe impacts may be.