A new framework for flood adaptation: introducing the Flood Adaptation Hierarchy

Ecology and Society: a journal of integrative science for resilience and sustainability

article

Andrew J. Peck¹  Stevie L. Adams¹  Andrea Armstrong¹  Anna K. Bartlett¹  Marci L. Bortman¹  Alison B. Branco¹  Michelle L. Brown¹  Jessica L. Donohue¹  Mali'o Kodis¹  Michael J. McCann¹  Elizabeth Smith¹ 

[1] The Nature Conservancy

关键词: climate adaptation;    climate change;    ecosystem-based solutions;    equity;    Flood Adaptation Hierarchy;    flood management;    flood mitigation;    flood risk management;    natural flood solutions;    nature-based solutions;   

DOI  :  10.5751/ES-13544-270405

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Resilience Alliance Publications

【 摘 要 】

Traditional flood risk paradigms and associated strategies are no longer sufficient to address global flood adaptationchallenges due to climate change and continued development in floodplains. The current flood adaptation approach is failing to takeadvantage of the benefits provided by intact ecosystems and perpetuates social and economic inequities, leaving those who are mostvulnerable at highest risk. Rooted in the experiences of the United States, we propose a new framework, the Flood Adaptation Hierarchy,which prioritizes outcomes into six tiers. Overall, the tiers distinguish between nature and nature-based solutions, with preference givento natural ecosystems. The most important outcome in our hierarchy is to avoid risk by protecting and restoring natural floodplains;next, eliminate risk by moving communities away from danger; and then to accommodate water with passive measures and active riskreduction measures. We include, but deprioritize, a defense of community assets using nature-based engineering and hardenedengineering. Throughout the hierarchy, we provide guidance on the equity considerations of flood adaptation decision making andhighlight “impacts,” “resources,” and “voices” as important equity dimensions. Implementing the framework through an iterativeprocess, using justification criteria to manage movement among tiers, alongside equity considerations, will support adaptation tochanging environmental and social conditions and contribute to risk reduction at scale. Though this approach is focused on U.S. floodmanagement and adaptation, prioritizing risk reduction, elimination of risk, and accommodation of hazards over the defense againstthreats not only has global applicability to flood adaptation, but should also be evaluated for applicability to other climate-drivenchallenges.

【 授权许可】

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