A new study for Joseph Rowntree Foundation explores the increasing risk posed by pluvial flooding – the type of flooding most likely to increase in severity as a result of climate change. These kinds of flood are the most difficult to manage because they are hard to predict.

The study assesses how many people in urban areas are at risk from pluvial flooding. It also examines the vulnerable social groups who are most exposed to this risk.

Key findings include: 

• Approximately 2 million people in UK urban areas are exposed to an annual pluvial flood risk of 0.5 per cent or greater.
• An additional 1.2 million people in urban areas could be put at risk by 2050 due to a combination of climate change and population growth.
• From a social justice perspective, it is important to know the characteristics of the population at risk, not just the number of properties in an affected area.
• An interdisciplinary approach incorporating engineering, natural sciences and social sciences is required to better understand social vulnerability to flood risk.

You can download the summary and full report at: http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/pluvial-flooding-invisible-hazard

If you would like to discuss this research further, please contact Josh Stott, Programme Manager: josh.stott@jrf.org.uk

You can find out more about the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s work by visiting our website: www.jrf.org.uk.