Mapping Flood Impacts on Mortality at European Territories of the Mediterranean Region within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Framework

Abstract

Despite significant advances in technology and flood risk management, as well as the countless risk prevention initiatives undertaken by governments and institutions in recent decades, flood hazards persist in threatening human life and health, especially under the effects of climate change. To assess the effectiveness of the various programs or measures devised to protect human life and health from floods, it is crucial to measure and understand its impacts on society, establishing the capability to track indicators or metrics that reflect the spatial distribution and temporal progress of floods and their impacts. In this context, this study uses disaster loss data derived from international disaster databases adapted in regional context following the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics level 2 (or NUTS2), to examine the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of deaths, directly attributable to flood disasters. In addition, we explore the potential of currently available datasets in understanding and monitoring flood-related mortality, an important standardized progress indicator of flood disaster impacts. This study is framed within the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), recently adopted by the European Union, and is focused on the Union’s territories in the Mediterranean region, an area particularly sensitive to climate change. Results show interesting spatial patterns, and generally inconclusive temporal trends, although locally we see evidence of both an increase and a decline in flood mortality. In addition, this work discusses the currently available datasets potential, weaknesses and limitations, as well as the importance of tracking flood impacts on human life in a future increasingly influenced by extreme weather events and climate change.