Global cities join forces in bid to stem flood and drought risk

A global network of mayors from almost 100 cities has committed to science-based targets in a collective bid to mitigate flood risk and bring on measures to address drought.

The commitments under what is the second phase of the Water Safe Cities project by the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group include:

• raising and supporting ambition for water resilience in the world’s cities;

• safeguarding cities from water-related climate hazards; and

• making water security and safety a core component of cities’ climate strategy following an urban water management approach

The group, in partnership with pump manufacturer, Grundfos, will “advise and support cities on solutions such as river catchment management, water-system efficiency improvements, and flood-proofing critical infrastructure.” Research under the first phase of the Water Safe Cities project found that 7.4m people in the world’s largest cities will be exposed to severe river flooding by 2050 and flooding and drought was expected to cost world’s major cities $194bn a year.

Deputy executive director of C40, Kevin Austen, said: “The Water Safe Cities project is urgently needed. Mitigating river flood risks, for instance, would reduce damages across all C40 cities by 13% by 2050, while drought-related solutions could save $8bn in damages. This partnership between C40, Grundfos and the Grundfos Foundation should be the starting point for wider collaboration between cities, national governments and the private sector, all of whom have an incentive to protect cities from water risks.”