October 5, 2020
Pluvial floods in Rotterdam
This present report contains an overview of the effects and future adaptation strategies for a potential fluvial flood in the city of Rotterdam. To begin with, the presence of the river Nieuwe Maas through Rotterdam added up with the expected intense climate change effects in the future, pose a threat for a fluvial flood to occur. In this case, the mostly affected areas would be the unembanked ones such as Kop van Feijenoord and Noordereiland. Critical infrastructure such as dikes and railways while also properties, houses and the road network would face a great threat in a possible river flood. Until 2050, with the increased climate change implications such as extreme rainfalls and augmented river discharge, a probability of a fluvial flood will not remain at the low levels it is today. Furthermore, this kind of shock in the city of Rotterdam would have serious consequences on the society and create serious ethical dilemmas. Questions such as how equally would compensations be distributed or would the people just abandon their homes before the actual flood occurs, are only few from the ones that would rise. Nevertheless, essential adaptation strategies are already applied or being planned in order for Rotterdam to be able withstand these disastrous effects. Floating houses and reinforced dikes are some of the technical measures mentioned while there are specific governance arrangements that can be decided. These measures, can also have both a positive and negative effect on society, something that is also analysed. Moreover, some suggestions regarding the monitoring of the effects of the reported strategies and measures are included. In the last part of the report, understanding and discussion questions are added for readers.