Europe

The Ourcoast-Database includes case studies that reflect successful examples of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) approach and tools applied throughout the European Member States. For the case studies, the following questions have been applied: where, why, how and involving whom has the ICZM approach or tools been applied, but also what were their main results and which were the main successful and failure factors affecting the implementation.

This paper demonstrates the application of cost effectiveness analysis and cost benefit analysis to alternative avalanche risk reduction strategies in Davos, Switzerland. The advantages as well as limitations of such analysis for natural hazards planning are discussed with respect to 16 avalanche risk reduction strategies. Scenarios include risk reduction measures that represent the main approaches to natural hazards planning in Switzerland, such as technical, organisational, and land use planning measures.

Flooding due to extreme rain events in urban environments is a problem and a growing concern. When the stormwater systems design return period are greatly exceeded during extreme rain events, flooding is inevitable. However, the flood consequences can be mitigated by surface water management. A Swedish methodology, Plan B, is developed for investigation and planning of extreme rain events by means of flood simulation models.

Post-project appraisals were carried out for flood protection projects completed during 1960–1987 in six locations in England and Wales. The methodology focused on assessing the implications of new hydrological-hydraulic analyses of flood risks, and of urban land use changes. With hindsight, four of the projects showed higher economic returns than expected, but not all of these were subject to a pre-scheme benefit-cost analysis.

This report describes the CEA methodology and how we have implemented this in CLIMSAVE. We address key methodological issues referring to uncertainty and report in detail on specific topics. We conclude with insights gained and proposals for the further development of the CEA methodology.

In this document, the methodology and the concepts for prioritisation of adaptation measures are comprehensively explained. Prior to this, a theoretical focus is presented to link the concepts of climate change, water, adaptation and economics. Firstly, an understanding of how climate change can affect the water cycle is provided, along with an explanation and listing of different existing adaptation measures to climate change for water supply and sanitation management. Later, it is presented how climate change can be linked to economic analysis.

The aim of this project is to advance knowledge of the costs of climate change in the UK, by generating initial estimates of the welfare effects associated with specific impacts occurring under a range of climate change and socioeconomic scenarios for the UK. To the extent possible, it also indicates how and where the burden of these welfare affects may fall. In order to generate robust results, that will facilicate adaptation assessment, a primarily bottom-up approach based on local, regional and national case studies in a range of key impact sectors is adopted.

The increasing land-use activities in European mountain regions have led to a considerable threat of natural hazards such as flash floods and debris flows in areas used for settlement purposes and economic activities. To mitigate associated losses, traditional protective measures, including check dams and retention basins, were commonly implemented by public authorities. However, due to the scarceness of public funds, efficient protection alternatives have to be developed to reduce future expenditures.

With respect to the enormous damages floods have caused in Central Europe in the last few years (Odra 1997, Elbe 2002), the use of detention areas for reducing flood risk is of high importance in modern flood management. By the controlled flooding of sparsely populated areas with low damage potential the risk for downstream areas with higher vulnerability can be reduced. The report presents the results of a research project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research.