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How does climate change affect flood risk?

Flood risk will be exacerbated by climate change. Sea-level rise by 2100 strongly depends on future emissions, predicted to reach about 0.40 m for very low emissions (global warming close to 1.5 °C), about 0.8 m for very high emissions (global warming above 4 °C), and 1 m more if ice-sheet instability processes associated with deep uncertainty are triggered. Due to relative sea-level rise, extreme sea-level events are projected to occur more frequently.

Climate change is also expected to significantly increase the intensity of extreme rainfall and droughts in some areas. Further, more frequent extreme typhoon and storm surge events are projected that will increase the likelihood and rate of coastal flooding and coastal erosion. The impact of climate change will depend on actions for managing and mitigating risk, and guiding socioeconomic dynamics.