Flood Re's Andy Bord on how climate change will affect flood risk

After the floods last November, I visited Doncaster to see how the town was coping with the aftermath of the floods. While I was impressed by the swift recovery efforts of insurers, the local council and government agencies, I was also struck by just how powerless flooding can make whole communities feel and how devastating the long term effects can be. But while the emotional and financial consequence are felt by individuals, families and communities, the causes of flooding are often global.

Climate change will increase the frequency and severity of flooding across the world. By the 2050s, annual losses in the UK from flooding are expected to increase by between 25% and 80% depending on