13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards

Recently, in July 2021, destructive and deadly floods occurred in Western Europe. The estimated insured losses only in Germany could approach 5 billion Euros (AIR Worldwide, 2021). However, the total amount of the damage is currently not foreseeable due to the variety and complexity of the damage patterns and the unbelievable extent of the disaster. It seems the socio-economic losses will dramatically increase and break a new record in the insurance industry after evaluating the complete record of damages’ reports (see Figure 1).

Translated by Marina Agarkova

В 2019 году наводнения стали причиной 43,5% всех смертей в результате стихийных бедствий и, таким образом, представляют собой самый смертоносный тип бедствия с растущим числом событий по сравнению с предыдущими годами (CRED, 2019). Кроме того, наводнения приводят к наибольшему числу пострадавших людей по сравнению с другими бедствиями, поскольку они влияют на деятельность человека и экономику (CRED, 2019; Elagib et al. 2019).

Merci à Martin Sarret d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Recently, in July 2021, destructive and deadly floods occurred in Western Europe. The estimated insured losses only in Germany could approach 5 billion Euros (AIR Worldwide, 2021). However, the total amount of the damage is currently not foreseeable due to the variety and complexity of the damage patterns and the unbelievable extent of the disaster. It seems the socio-economic losses will dramatically increase and break a new record in the insurance industry after evaluating the complete record of damages’ reports (see Figure 1).

Translated by Marina Agarkova

В 2019 году наводнения стали причиной 43,5% всех смертей в результате стихийных бедствий и, таким образом, представляют собой самый смертоносный тип бедствия с растущим числом событий по сравнению с предыдущими годами (CRED, 2019). Кроме того, наводнения приводят к наибольшему числу пострадавших людей по сравнению с другими бедствиями, поскольку они влияют на деятельность человека и экономику (CRED, 2019; Elagib et al. 2019).

Introduction

In recent decades, many regions of the world have experienced a growing instability in rainfall patterns. What were once predictable seasonal rains have become unpredictable —arriving late, falling too fast, or not coming at all. As communities face longer droughts, more frequent floods, and declining snowpack, it’s increasingly clear that these disruptions are not isolated events, but signals of a deeper transformation: the global water cycle is changing.

Introduction

With the rapid advancement of urbanization, urban water environments are facing unprecedented challenges (Chen et al. 2015). The continuous expansion of impervious surfaces has disrupted the natural water cycle, resulting in rapid stormwater runoff, increased frequency of urban flooding, and reduced groundwater recharge. At the same time, worsening water pollution and the intensifying urban heat island effect further highlight the limitations of traditional urban planning and design in adapting to hydrological systems.

Merci à Martin Sarret d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Merci à Mussa Kachunga Stanis d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Since ancient times, people have established communities in river deltas because it provides water, fertile land, and transportation access, making them an ideal place to live. This pattern has been carried forward to the present. With nearly 6 billion people living in river deltas, they are one of the most densely populated places on Earth (Kuenzer and Renaud, 2011). However, they are facing threats such as climate change, sea level rise, land use changes, and ecosystem degradation.

In 2019, floods caused 43.5% of all deaths due to natural disasters and thereby represent the deadliest type of disaster with an increasing number of events compared to previous years (CRED, 2019). Floods furthermore lead to the highest number of people affected compared to other disasters as they affect human activities and the economy (CRED, 2019; Elagib et al. 2019).

Translated by Dr. Mengyi Jin

引言

随着城市化的快速推进，城市水环境正面临前所未有的挑战 (Chen et al. 2015)。城市地表不透水面的持续扩张削弱了自然雨水循环，导致降雨径流迅速汇集，增加了内涝发生的频率，也降低了雨水对地下水的补给能力。同时，水体污染以及城市热岛效应的加剧，进一步暴露出传统城市规划对水文系统适应性的不足。在气候变化背景下，极端降雨、干旱等事件的发生频率和强度不断上升，这些现象正严峻考验着城市对水资源的调蓄、排涝、净化和生态恢复等能力。

在这个背景下，水敏感城市设计（Water Sensitive Urban Design, WSUD）作为一种新型城市发展模式被广泛关注。与“低影响开发”（Low Impact Development, LID）理念相似， 水敏感城市设计强调模拟自然水循环过程，并提升城市应对水资源相关挑战的韧性。其核心目标在于将水资源视为城市系统中不可或缺的组成部分，通过系统性地管理水的收集、输送、处理与储存过程，实现其生态功能与社会功能的有机融合（Wong 2006）。

Merci à Martin Sarret d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Merci à Mussa Kachunga Stanis d'avoir traduit cet article volontairement.

Translated by Dr. Mengyi Jin

自古以来，河流三角洲因水资源丰富、土壤肥沃及交通便利而成为人类聚居的重要区域。这一格局延续至今。目前，生活在三角洲地区的人口已接近 60 亿，使其成为全球人口最稠密的地区之一（Kuenzer and Renaud 2011）。然而，这些三角洲地区正面临着气候变化、海平面上升、土地利用方式转变以及生态系统退化等威胁。遥感技术在获取环境状况及其时序变化方面具有显著优势，其在识别灾害前兆信号、预测自然现象演变等方面发挥着关键作用。在三角洲地区，遥感已被广泛应用于海岸线变化监测、洪水监测与预测等领域（Merkuryeva et al. 2015；Li and Damen 2010）。持续开展三角洲监测不仅有助于维护其生态功能，还能及时识别潜在风险，并为科学管理提供重要依据，而遥感正是实现这一目标的关键技术。

In 2019, floods caused 43.5% of all deaths due to natural disasters and thereby represent the deadliest type of disaster with an increasing number of events compared to previous years (CRED, 2019). Floods furthermore lead to the highest number of people affected compared to other disasters as they affect human activities and the economy (CRED, 2019; Elagib et al. 2019).

Translated by Marina Agarkova

В 2019 году наводнения стали причиной 43,5% всех смертей в результате стихийных бедствий и, таким образом, представляют собой самый смертоносный тип бедствия с растущим числом событий по сравнению с предыдущими годами (CRED, 2019). Кроме того, наводнения приводят к наибольшему числу пострадавших людей по сравнению с другими бедствиями, поскольку они влияют на деятельность человека и экономику (CRED, 2019; Elagib et al. 2019).

In 2019, floods caused 43.5% of all deaths due to natural disasters and thereby represent the deadliest type of disaster with an increasing number of events compared to previous years (CRED, 2019). Floods furthermore lead to the highest number of people affected compared to other disasters as they affect human activities and the economy (CRED, 2019; Elagib et al. 2019).