Climate change is one of the most significant global challenges of our time. It is a major threat to public health, food security, water supplies, coastal areas, and infrastructure. Climate change is also a major driver of natural disasters, such as floods.
Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. They can occur anywhere, at any time, and often with little or no warning. Floods can cause extensive damage to property and lead to loss of life.
The impact of climate change on floods is two-fold. First, climate change is causing sea levels to rise. This increase in sea level means that there is more water available to be pushed inland by storms. Second, climate change is causing more extreme weather events, such as more intense storms and longer periods of heavy rain. These extreme weather events are more likely to cause flooding.
The good news is that there are steps that we can take to reduce the risk of flooding. One important step is to restore natural floodplains. Floodplains are areas of land that are designed to temporarily store water during a flood. They act like a sponge, soaking up water and then slowly releasing it over time.
Restoring natural floodplains can help to reduce the risk of flooding in two ways. First, it can help to reduce the amount of water that is available to be pushed inland by storms. Second, it can help to reduce the impact of extreme weather events by providing an area for water to be stored during periods of heavy rain.
There are many other steps that we can take to reduce the risk of flooding, such as improving drainage systems and building flood barriers. But restoring natural floodplains is one of the most important steps that we can take to reduce the impact of climate change on floods.
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-10/documents/climate_change_and_flooding_fact_sheet.pdf
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/how-restoring-natural-floodplains-can-help-cities-prepare-more-extreme-flooding
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-49167-0