Reflections on the current debate on how to link flood insurance and disaster risk reduction in the European Union

Surminski, Swenja, Aerts, Jeroen C. J. H., Botzen, Wouter, Hudson, Paul, Mysiak, Jaroslav and Pérez-Blanco, Carlos Dionisio (2015) Reflections on the current debate on how to link flood insurance and disaster risk reduction in the European Union. Natural Hazards, 79 (3). pp. 1451-1479. ISSN 0921-030X

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Abstract

Flood insurance differs widely in scope and form across Europe. Against the backdrop of rising flood losses a debate about the role of EU policy in shaping the future of this compensation mechanism is led by policy makers and industry. In this paper we investigate if and how current EU policies influence flood insurance. While the question of supply and demand is at the core of the debate, we argue that another key dimension is often overlooked: how to use insurance as a lever for risk reduction and prevention efforts. We investigate if and how current EU policies interplay with these two dimensions and then reflect on the national policy level. We illustrate two conflicting cases of flood insurance: the United Kingdom (UK), where flood insurance provision is widely available, but subject to current reform, and the Netherlands, where efforts to introduce a broad flood insurance coverage have only recently failed. In analysing the current positions on the role of the EU in shaping flood insurance we conclude that there is wide agreement that a complete harmonisation of flood insurance offering across the EU is unlikely to be effective. We determine that there is clear scope for the EU to play a greater role in linking risk transfer and prevention, beyond existing channels, to ensure an integrated approach to flood risk management across the EU.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://link.springer.com/journal/11069
Additional Information:	© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
Divisions:	Grantham Research Institute Climate Change Economics and Policy
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography J Political Science > JX International law
Date Deposited:	27 Apr 2015 13:47
Last Modified:	10 Oct 2024 03:39
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/61758

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